The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has fined a man $48,000 for using a signal jammer during commutes.
The man was using the device as a means to interrupt drivers from using their handsets while cruising on a Florida highway, according to the FCC report.
Florida laws forbid owning and using jammers on public roads. The devices are branded as a threat to public safety due to the fact that emergency response teams could be hindered by their use.
Jason Humphreys was caught in the act of denying other drivers cellular signal on the Interstate 4, between Seffner and Tampa.
The FCC's report states that the man had been jamming communications over a period ranging from 16 to 24 months prior to being apprehended, in 2014.
MetroPCS observed that disturbances occurred next to its cellular broadcast towers at regular intervals and alerted police officers. When the cops caught him, Humphreys told them that he was using the jammer to curb people's habit of using a phone while driving.
The list of offenses includes unauthorized operation, use of an illegal device, and causing intentional interference.
Official papers from the FCC show that the regulator wanted to fine the man with $48,000 since 2014. Taking into account the nature and prolonged timeline of the illegal activity, the FCC asked for the top fine of $16,000 for each offense.
The FCC is very determined to put a stop to illegal practices and just this May 25 it fined a Chinese venture that was selling jammers online. CTS Technology was fined $34.9 million for merchandising cellular jammers over a two-year period.
Investigations dating to 2014 hinted that the firm was misleading its customers, guaranteeing that the jammers are FCC compliant. The enterprise's store contained a wide array of devices.
Shoppers could find anything from tiny, easy-to-hide devices to potent electronics ready to "disrupt a wide range of communications systems for several blocks."
Travis LeBlanc, one of the members in the commission, notes that public safety, business deals and general communications rely on the proper functioning of cellular and GPS.
That is why any effort to market or merchandise such gadgets to the public is illegal and can bring substantial penalties.
