iOS applications that alert drivers to potential police checkpoints will not be approved, as per new guidelines Apple has published for its App Store reviews, according to Autoblog.com.
[ad#Google Adsense 300×250 in story]IThe new guideline has been posted in section 22.8:
“Apps which contain DUI checkpoints that are not published by law enforcement agencies, or encourage and enable drunk driving, will be rejected.”
Apple’s policy change seems to be in response to pressure applied by U.S. senators, which recently petitioned Apple, Research In Motion (RIM) and Google to remove such apps from distribution. The letter, sent by Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Tom Udall (D-NM), called the availability of such apps “harmful to public safety:”
“With a person dying every 50 minutes in a drunk-driving crash, this technology should not be promoted to your customers–in fact, it shouldn’t even be available.”
RIM – makers of the BlackBerry smartphone – were the first company to comply with the request.
Two prominent iOS apps designed to help drivers avoid police checkpoints – Trapster and DUI Dodger – remained available for download from the App Store as this article was posted.
Apple gave in to political pressure from politicians that want their time in the spotlight. If Apple just waited for one month then the storm would have passed.