Apple Sidelines DUI/Speedtrap Apps But They’re Still in iTunes

Apple Sidelines DUI/Speedtrap Apps But They’re Still in iTunes

Bowing to pressure from lawmakers after a recent U.S. senate hearing, Apple has updated the review guidelines to sideline new apps that might be seen as aiding drunk drivers.

Section 22.8 of the updated App Store Review Guidelines reads:

Apps which contain DUI checkpoints that are not published by law enforcement agencies, or encourage and enable drunk driving, will be rejected.

Some of the apps in question are, however, still available in iTunes for download.

As of this writing, some of the apps that came under fire like Buzzed, Checkpointer, Trapster and DUI Dodger are all present.

“Isn’t what these apps are doing is encouraging people to break the law?” Senator Tom Udall asked at the hearing. Udall, along with Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Harry Reid (D-NV), Charles Schumer (D-NY), called such apps “harmful to public safety.”

It’s unclear when or whether Apple will oust the currently approved DUI apps or whether it will make a distinction between those and the ones that are aimed to help sober drivers avoid everyday speed traps.

Via Mac Rumors

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About the author

Nicole MartinelliNicole Martinelli is a San Francisco native who has lived in Milan and Florence, Italy. She's written for Wired.com, The New York Times and Newsweek. You can find her on Twitter , Facebook and Google+. If you're doing something new/cool that's Apple-related, email her about it.

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