The chatter of Florida commuters on their cell phones was effectively blocked by jammers

[Perfect Jammer]

Numerous drivers wish to establish a cellphone-free space around their cars. Nevertheless, the actions of an individual in Florida, who purportedly achieved this on a daily basis during his commute, did not necessarily enhance the safety of the highway.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission revealed that Jason R. Humphreys, a resident of Seffner, Florida, had been operating a cellphone jammer in his Toyota Highlander sport-utility vehicle for a period of two years. It was during his daily commute that he engaged in this activity, but eventually, both the FCC and the local sheriff managed to locate him.

The FCC was informed by Humphreys that he utilized the jammer to discourage individuals from engaging in cellphone conversations while driving. It is worth noting that in Florida, talking on a cellphone while driving is permitted, even without a hands-free kit, although texting while driving is strictly prohibited.

Not only do signal blocker prevent consumers from making emergency calls, but they can disrupt critical communications by safety agencies, the FCC said. Hillsborough County sheriff's deputies confirmed that firsthand when they pulled Humphreys over. They said their two-way portable radios lost contact with the dispatcher as they got close to the SUV.

Notifying the FCC, it was Metro PCS, the regional mobile operator now under the ownership of T-Mobile USA, that raised concerns regarding a possible problem along a specific stretch of Interstate 4 connecting Seffner and downtown Tampa, spanning a distance of approximately 12 miles. On April 29, 2013, Metro PCS reported that their cell towers along this route were encountering interference during the morning and evening commutes. Acting upon this information, the FCC conducted an investigation utilizing direction-finding techniques, ultimately identifying strong wideband emissions emanating from a blue Highlander.

Following a traffic stop, FCC agents and sheriff's deputies engaged with Humphreys and proceeded to conduct a comprehensive search of the SUV. The search yielded the discovery of the vehicle cell phone jammer, which was cleverly concealed behind a seat cover on the backseat, as confirmed by the FCC. Humphreys allegedly confessed to utilizing the jammer during his daily commute for a period ranging from 16 to 24 months. Further examination determined that the device possessed the ability to interfere with cell signals across three distinct bands.

The charges against Humphreys include unauthorized operation of a jammer, use of an illegal device, and deliberate interference.