Community Corner
Man Jammed Cell Phones of Other Drivers, Faces Huge Fine
FCC staked out interstate and was able to track jamming signal. Authorities worry popularity of such devices is growing.
Federal authorities say a Florida man tired of people talking on their cell phones when driving took matters into his own hands: He jammed their phones.
Jason R. Humphreys faces $48,000 in fines for using a jammer in his SUV, MYFOXNY.com reported. According to the Federal Communications Commission Humphreys used the jammer for about two years during his morning drive to work.
The FCC was alerted by cell phone company Metro PCS in April 2013, theblaze.com reported. The company noticed cell tower sites experiencing interference.
Humphreys used the device on Interstate 4 between Seffner, Florida and Tampa.
A jamming device transmits a signal on the same frequency, but at a high enough power that the two signals collide, cancelling each other out, theblaze.com reported.
The FCC's enforcement division staked out I-4 and were able to pinpoint the jamming signal coming from Humphrey's vehicle, the Tampa Tribune reported.
One of the reasons such jammers are a no-no are safety concerns, the Tampa Tribune reported. People who might need to make a 911 call could be blocked, for example, or other communications used by law enforcement and emergency personnel could be impacted.
The newspaper reported that federal authorities worry the popularity of such devices could be on the rise.
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