Apple will reject DUI checkpoints app

[orangecat]

Regardless of whether you believe apps like this have a legitimate purpose, it demonstrates a disturbing aspect of the walled garden model. The government doesn't have to specifically prohibit an app it doesn't like, it just has to "encourage" the gatekeeper to remove it.

[siglesias]

That would be a disturbing aspect of government.

EDIT: To be clear, walled garden owners are under no legal obligations to comply with "suggestions" from government that apps be removed. If senators try to get their way by threatening regulation, I would say that's bad behavior on the part of those senators.

[ianferrel]

To be fair, there are plenty of reasons to avoid DUI checkpoints even if you're not driving impaired.

They tend to substantially slow down traffic, for one.

[lurchpop]

Not to mention the fact that they violate the 4th amendment and even the founder of MADD is against them.

[unshift]

not to mention they give out more seatbelt and sticker violations at DUI checkpoints than they do DUIs

[siglesias]

Do you check for DUI checkpoints every time you get in your car? Because I don't.

[tzs]

Note, however, that a good crowd-sourced traffic monitoring app could deal with that, without having to know that it is a DUI checkpoint. It just needs to know that there is an area where traffic is slow.

[ignifero]

Don't you guys have friends who died DUI? Here in southern europe it's a big probelm. I hate it that when i learn somebody i knew died or killed this way, i can't help thinking 'he brought it to himself'.

[siglesias]

The moral argument in favor of rejecting this app pivots around whether it does in fact enable more drunk driving. If it does, there doesn't seem to be good justification for allowing the app to exist. I don't think the calculus should be any more complicated than this.

Edit: I'll disclaim that I have a bias, having had a friend die drinking and driving.

[johngalt]

Perhaps some people take an issue with mandatory police inspections.

Someone who's salary I pay, using equipment I bought, forcibly stopping me on a street that I paid to build, and asking me what business I have being there.

Edit: What is the criminal penalty for having a .08 while performing law enforcement duties?

[qubit]

I disagree. I think the argument is more about who gets to decide what is "moral" and who gets to promote/enforce that morality.

[mw1234]

Should the calculus for banning vehicles or alcohol be any more complicated than whether they enable more drunk driving?

[Urgo]

While I don't condone drunk driving at all and personally don't have a use for this app as I don't drink and drive this is just one more example of why I'm an android user. I don't need papa jobs looking out for me.

[noarchy]

You don't have to add a disclaimer about not condoning drunk driving. That you felt it was necessary says quite a bit about how we've been groomed to accept these checkpoints.

[Steko]

"I don't need papa jobs looking out for me."

I hope you apply similar logic to all of the businesses you use. No onion rings at McDonalds? One more reason why I'm a Burger King customer. I don't need papa Ronald looking out for me.

[ignifero]

It would be socially responsible for Android/Google to do the same.

[redrobot5050]

Oh well. The developer will just move it to a web app. If he was smart, he was just using the embedded app version of Safari anyway to access a web site.

[tlrobinson]

Where do they draw the line? What about Trapster/RadarActive?

[kmfrk]

This is not the first police checkpoint app rejection, as I recall.

I think this is a fairly grey area, and I assume people are aware of the same thing. Instead of taking the gamble, I would looking into contacting someone related to the app review process and check if it would be acceptable.

[jseliger]

This is rather annoying, because I have two of them installed. They've never worked especially well, but it would be nice if they did.

Anyone know of a web app that's doing substantially the same thing?