Motorist Faces $48,000 In Fines For Mounting Cellular Signal Jammer In Car

Thomas Kreutzer
by Thomas Kreutzer

Network World is reporting that a Florida man who installed a cellular telephone jamme r in the back seat of his Toyota Highlander is facing $48,000 in fines levied by the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC alleges that one Jason R Humphreys of Seffner, FL regularly used the device during his daily commute and that he originally installed it more than two years ago. When questioned about his reasoning, Mr. Humphreys told officials that he installed the jammer in order to prevent people in the cars around him from using their cell phones while driving – something that is, by the way, totally legal in the state of Florida with or without a hands-free device.

The case first came to light when T-Mobile USA’s local carrier, a company called Mobile PCS, noticed problems with their towers over a 12 mile stretch of Interstate 4 between Seffner and Tampa. After finding that the interference seemed to coincide with the morning and evening commutes, Mobile PCS contacted the FCC who used direction finding equipment to identify the suspect’s blue Toyota Highlander. When Sherriff’s deputies approached the car, they found that their police radios ceased to work as well and, after a search of the vehicle, found the jamming device hidden beneath a seat cover in the back seat.

Cellular jammers are illegal to own, manufacture or import into the United States and the FCC has taken a hardline stance against their use. Mr. Humphrey’s fine technically covers two separate charges, one for use of an illegal device and another for causing intentional interference, and is being assessed for a single use of the device. Given the length of time he claims to have employed it, however, the fine could have gone as high as $337,000. He has 30 days to either pay up or file a response.

Thomas Kreutzer
Thomas Kreutzer

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  • Its me Dave Its me Dave on May 02, 2014

    My boom-car subwoofer jammer is still legally a-ok though. Right?

    • Cls12vg30 Cls12vg30 on May 02, 2014

      I don't hear nearly as many thumping, license-tag-rattling bass systems as I used to. Maybe the police around here have cracked down on the decibel limits, I don't know. But ten years ago these annoyed me so much, my twisted brain was longing to think up a portable directed-EMP device. It does occur to me thought that many of the same guys I used to see in thump-mobiles are the same ones I now see driving with earbuds in....

  • JK43123 JK43123 on May 06, 2014

    1. If it is legal to be on a cell phone and drive, then it is illegal to interfere. Period. I wish it was illegal everywhere but it isn't. 2. What did this guy accomplish? No one said "wow my cell dropped a call, better not talk on the phone while driving." They simply redialed and moved on. It is funny to think about, but in reality it accomplished nothing. John

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