Jammers put an end to the disruptive cell phone conversations of Florida commuters

Many drivers dream of having a cellphone-free sanctuary within their vehicles. Nonetheless, the alleged creation of such a bubble by a Florida man during his daily commute did not necessarily result in a safer highway.

In Seffner, Florida, Jason R. Humphreys was found to have used a cellphone jammer in his Toyota Highlander sport-utility vehicle for as long as two years, as stated by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. This unlawful activity took place during his daily commute, but he was eventually tracked down by both the FCC and the local sheriff.

According to Humphreys’ statement to the FCC, he employed the jammer to deter people from talking on their cellphones while driving. It is important to note that in Florida, it is legal to talk on a cellphone while driving, even without a hands-free kit, although texting while driving is against the law.

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.

The FCC was alerted to a potential issue on a segment of Interstate 4, running between Seffner and downtown Tampa, by Metro PCS, the regional mobile operator currently owned by T-Mobile USA. On April 29, 2013, Metro PCS reported that their cell towers along this route were experiencing interference during the morning and evening rush hours. In response, the FCC initiated an investigation employing direction-finding techniques, which led to the discovery of strong wideband emissions originating from a blue Highlander.

Upon intercepting the SUV, FCC agents and sheriff’s deputies initiated a conversation with Humphreys and subsequently carried out an extensive search of the vehicle. It was during this search that they uncovered the jammer, discreetly hidden behind a seat cover on the backseat, as officially stated by the FCC. Humphreys purportedly admitted to employing the vehicle cell phone jammer throughout his daily commute for a duration spanning from 16 to 24 months, according to the FCC. Further evaluation demonstrated that the device had the capacity to disrupt cellular signals across three separate frequency bands.

Humphreys is being charged with the unauthorized operation of a jammer, the use of an illegal device, and the intentional causing of interference.