Police agencies seek right to jam cell signals

Police agencies seek right to jam cell signals

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By Spencer S. Hsu
updated 2 hours, 38 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - As President Obama's motorcade rolled down Pennsylvania Avenue on Inauguration Day, federal authorities deployed a closely held law enforcement tool: equipment that can jam cellphones and other wireless devices to foil remote-controlled bombs, sources said.

It is an increasingly common technology, with federal agencies expanding its use as state and local agencies are pushing for permission to do the same. Police and others say it could stop terrorists from coordinating during an attack, prevent suspects from erasing evidence on wireless devices, simplify arrests and keep inmates from using contraband phones.

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I'm not sure if this is a good idea at the state and local level.

The quest to expand the technology has invigorated a debate about how widely jamming should be allowed and whether its value as a common crime-fighting strategy outweighs its downsides, including restricting the constant access to the airwaves that Americans have come to expect.

I think that we all know that you can be tracked by your cell phone already, but only by the NSA or some other 3 letter agency. But this going to my home town police seems a bit too Big Brother to me. I guess that local law enforcement could use this, but I'm not sure how.

I could see it's uses in schools to prevent students texting there way through class. but that all I come up with so far.

Thoughts anyone???

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