The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants drivers to do nothing but drive when they're behind the wheel. No texting. No cell phone use. No GPS. The agency's latest attempt to accomplish that goal is a series of voluntary guidelines for vehicle manufacturers, including a recommendation that distracting devices built into vehicles are automatically turned off unless the vehicle is stopped and the transmission is in park. Necessary safety devices would not be included in the changes.
We think the NHTSA is forgetting a few things in their recommendations. It's not always drivers who are using GPS units or other electronic devices in a vehicle. Passengers are often the ones using such things. In addition, the guidelines address only devices that are built in to vehicles. There's still no way to keep drivers from using their own portable GPS?units or other devices.
Would federal officials rather a driver try to unfold a road map to see where he's going than use a touch-screen GPS?unit? There are better ways, such as hands-free devices and continuing education, to help drivers maintain safety while on the road. Do we want drivers texting, sending e-mails, or surfing the web while behind the wheel? Absolutely not. But the more Big Brother government gets involved, the more worried we become.
WASHINGTON — A US Supreme Court decision requiring a warrant to place a GPS device on the car of a criminal suspect leaves unresolved the bigger issue of police tracking using mobile phones, legal experts say.
The top US court ruled 9-0 in January that police violated the rights of a suspected drug dealer when they placed a GPS, or Global Positioning System, tracking device on his vehicle without a warrant and followed his movements.
But privacy activists and legal analysts are watching for guidance on the far more ubiquitous practice of law enforcement tracking using cellphones.
This can be done using a phone's GPS or by "triangulation" using cell towers, and can also be done with certain tablet or laptop computers.
Privacy advocates say real-life police, like the ones on TV, often use this method to track suspects despite the murky legal situation. This could be limited if courts provide clearer rulings or if Congress passes legislation on "location privacy."
Find your lost Android cell phone at www.mycelltracker.com and if you are a developer go to http for more tutorials
Which is the best GPS Navigation and portable?
Nov 13, 2008 by Powered by Detroit | Posted in Car Audio
So many choices: Garmin, Magellan, Tom Tom, even cell phones. Lb for lb let me know who's better. Thanks.
My friend has a TomTomXL, has an extra large (XL) screen and internal rechargeable battery. We used it all the time in the winter time, when driving to ski resorts, it even got us to the nearest burger king on the way home. It was packed with millions of POI's.
I highely recommend.
ckostura | Nov 13, 2008
Magellan products are excellent, as well as Tom Tom and Garmin, do you researchy based on your needs what do you need it for, traffic etc. My advise my not meet your requirements, so find a couple in your price range and compare their features.
Fri D | Nov 13, 2008
Magellan. Although I like using mine, I still find the best way to get where you are going, a good old fashion street guide or road map. Good luck.
jdlaplant | Nov 13, 2008
How do I install a GPS tracker on my sisters ex husband's truck that can alert her cell phone?
Dec 19, 2008 by * * | Posted in Car Audio
I'll spare you all the details and I relize the legal ramifications of it. But things are getting desperate. He's violent, daddy's a cop, small town, yada yada yada. Anyway he's at one end of the town and will not go to the other side unless it's to bother her. I was thinking of a gps system with parameters set that would text her when he goes past a line giving her time to leave. Or maybe send an email and have the email send her a text. What would be the best system? I would also like something either homemade, a one time fee, or a very small monthly fee (she's on a very limited budget).
Here is a one time fee. A 9mm and a box of bullets. If hes hurting her, especially in her own house, she needs to fill him full of hot lead. That is a classic case of self defense.
~Kevin~ | Dec 19, 2008
Securing motorized bicycle?
Apr 28, 2008 by kittysaysmeow | Posted in Motorcycles
Tracking device for bicycle?
I am planning on purchasing a motorized bicycle (not a moped or scooter, a regular bike with a little engine attached, one of these: http://www.motoredbikes.com/gallery/my/i ...
The problem is that I live in a very high bike theft area and I am really worried about it getting stolen, esspecially with the fancy engine and all. I have already lost two bikes worth nowhere near as much as this one will be.
The best idea I've heard so far is to buy one of those disposable cell phones with GPS and hide it somewhere on the bike so if it's stolen I can track it on the internet.
Any ideas for how I could securely hide the phone without the theif finding it right away?
Other ideas besides tracking? (I do plan on using two kryptonite u locks as well)
Is there any way to secure the engine from being started, or stolen off the bike, for that matter?
The photo link didn't work, try this one!
http://www.kulukin.com/bikes/index_files /IMG_3070.JPG
I will have to park it outside sometimes. I will be parking it by the bart (bay area's subway thing) and it will sometimes need to be parked out overnight. I will basically be using it like a car, so I can't keep it at home ALL the time (what would be the point of driving it then?)
Also, it's waaay cheaper then a moped and requires no special liscense. It only hits 30mph so I feel safe on it.
Tracking, Kryptonite locks and "fancy engine and all" How much are you spending on this bike ?
Why dont you just buy a real motorcycle ?
maddog i nearly p***ed myself laughing at your answer !
Daz K | Apr 28, 2008
Sew some leather fringe onto the seat and let it hang down a few inches.
Mount the phone under the seat.
To lock the engine - wrap a large chain around the cylinder.
Very tightly around the bottom of the cylinder where it mounts to the crankcase (or measure the cylinder to see if a kryptonite lock will fit around it).
Then lock the front wheel to the frame, the rear wheel to the frame the engine to the frame and everything to a secure post.
Build a wooden shelf for the rear rack.
Build it ,so it hangs a little below the rack and put a false bottom (trap door) in it for the phone.
guardrailjim | Apr 28, 2008
park it in your room
magley64, magz™ if ya *scoff* | Apr 28, 2008
for once i have to agree with magz (makes me want to puke) bring the sucker into the house/apartment,gonna take an hour of your riding time just to unlock everything
maddog | Apr 28, 2008
Help! I can't find my friend!?
Mar 20, 2010 by a420tallgirl | Posted in Safety
My friend was supposed to meet me for lunch almost 3 hours ago, after i waited about 20 min i tried calling him, a girl (could have been his sister, roommate, anyone... i don't know for sure) answered long enough to say 3 or 4 words but said them too fast for me to understand then hung up, and hung up twice more when i tried calling back thiniking it was an accident... i still can't get a hold of him and his best friend can't either (which is REALLY outta the ordinary) I would call the non emergency number and ask if the police or paramedics have run into him today, but he has a silly bench warrent and i dont dare draw attention to him if he's not in real trouble... Do ANYONE have ANY ideas how i can at least find out where he is? He has a cell phone, but it's nothing fancy and i don't have any gps tracking software... Any help would be MUCH APPRECIATED!
i've check with the hospitals and he isn't there thankfully...
Okay, let me see if I got this.
You called him, a girl answered, then hung up on you.
You called him, a girl answered, then hung up on you.
How many times must this be repeated before you get a clue?
A girl answered his phone, heard a female voice on the other end, and hung up.
Let me clarify this. Tiger's wife called a number on his phone and a girl answered.
Sydney Morning HeraldThe total cost over and above a normal cell phone — $185 a year on the 200 MB plan — is still real cash, but it substantially reduces the sticker shock of Apple WWDC liveblog: new iPhones and software - and the restiPhone 4: Higher-res, new camera, better motion-sensingLive: Steve Jobs unveils iPhone 4 -all 4,711 news articles »
Many network providers and cell phone manufacturers have tied up to provide a unique deal to their users. Wherein, the customer has to use the network SIM and more »
Unlike fixed-line telephones, which are associated with a fixed street address, a person dialing 9-1-1 from a cell phone could be anywhere on the network. and more »
Pocket-lint.comMost of these have been badly needed, and for a while will make the iPhone 4 the best equipped phone on the market – until the rest of the manufactures HDTV Almanac - Apple Reveals iPhone 4Gall 82 news articles »
Honestly, it all sounds a bit kludgy, requiring the use of a desktop browser, a cell phone, a Bluetooth connection, and a Sync system in the car with this and more »
360 degree rotation in all direction. Adjustable width Size: 2" - 3.2"
Extra large suction cup fastens securely to the windshield and the dash mount. Please press hard on the base of the mount while rotating the suction lock. For dash mount installation, please follow the enclosed instructions carefully.
Package includes 1xCar Holder, 1xChassis Paste. iPhone is not included! Come with foam grip to prevent your Cell Phone from scratches.
Sydney Morning HeraldThe total cost over and above a normal cell phone — $185 a year on the 200 MB plan — is still real cash, but it substantially reduces the sticker shock of Apple WWDC liveblog: new iPhones and software - and the restiPhone 4: Higher-res, new camera, better motion-sensingLive: Steve Jobs unveils iPhone 4 -all 4,711 news articles »
Pocket-lint.comMost of these have been badly needed, and for a while will make the iPhone 4 the best equipped phone on the market – until the rest of the manufactures HDTV Almanac - Apple Reveals iPhone 4Gall 82 news articles »
