Cell phones are annoying on the subway, but using them on the road can be even more dangerous. In Florida, Jason R. Humphreys was fed up with people talking on the phone while driving, so he installed a powerful jammer in his Toyota Highlander. He hoped to prevent distracted driving, but his actions also violated the law.
Humphreys' jammer was so powerful that the service provider Metro PCS reported the problem to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). They found that cell phone towers along Interstate 4 often had problems during commuting hours. The FCC investigated and identified the source of the jamming signal, locking onto a blue Toyota Highlander. Humphreys was stopped and arrested, and he admitted to using the cell phone jammer for about two years.
Last week, the FCC issued a press release saying that they would fine Humphreys $48,000. In the meantime, they were still trying to contact him, but communication was very difficult due to the jammer. As the press release states, FCC Enforcement Bureau agents attempted to contact Humphreys by phone three times, but each time the calls were interrupted by interference.
Not only that, the FCC also issued a $34.9 million fine to the Chinese manufacturer C.T.S. Technology Co., their largest fine ever. The company reportedly sold and marketed 285 different types of jamming devices. The FCC is clearly stepping up its efforts to combat the manufacture and use of illegal cell phone scramblers.