A Florida man reportedly caught using a cell phone jammer during his daily commute is facing a sizable fine for illegal interference.
The Federal Communications Commission announced last week it will fine Jason Humphreys of Seffner, Fla. $48,000 for use of a signal jamming device, which work by transmitting signals that overpower, block or interfere with authorized communications are considered unlawful in the United States. Humphreys reportedly used the device on his daily commute for up to two years along a section of Interstate 4 between Seffner and Tampa, disrupting both cellular service and police and other emergency communications.
The FCC was first alerted to the problem by cellular service provider Metro PCS in April 2013, who reported that its cell phone tower sites had been experiencing interference during the morning and evening commutes in Tampa, Fla. Using direction finding techniques, FCC agents were able to identify Humphreys’ blue Toyota Highlander as the source of the strong wideband emissions.
When stopped by police, Humphreys reportedly said he had been using the jammer to prevent other vehicle owners from talking on their cell phones while driving. There is currently no law in Florida against talking on a cell phone while driving, though texting is prohibited.
