Be mindful of Cell Phone Jammers

Exercise caution regarding cell phone jammers, as criminals may soon integrate them into their toolkit for nefarious purposes. These handheld devices, capable of causing a "denial of service" or "DOS attack," are available for purchase on various online platforms for $1,000 to $2,000. However, the fine for owning one can exceed $10,000. Despite their compact nature - with claims that one model can "fit into any empty cigarette pack" - these devices are extremely powerful. Once activated, they interfere with wireless signals within a range of approximately 100 feet.

Devices that illegally silence cell phones

A national spotlight has been cast on an incident involving cell phone jammers in Canada, as reported by the Ottawa Sun. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) has taken action by issuing a warning to all police agencies across the country regarding the use of cell phone jammer. This cautionary measure was prompted by an encounter between two Quebec police officers and two suspects on a poorly illuminated highway, which resulted in interference with their walkie-talkies.

The Mount Spokane incident brought to light the effectiveness of these jammers in disrupting police radio communications. Consequently, multiple safety alerts have been issued in recent weeks to caution officers about the potential compromise to their safety posed by these devices.

The FCC Rules, as stated in Section 333, unequivocally declare that intentional or malicious interference with radio communication is strictly prohibited. Nevertheless, the agency faces practical constraints in effectively enforcing this regulation.

The owner of a high-end Maryland restaurant reported that FCC and Verizon Wireless investigators visited the establishment last year. The unnamed owner stated that they spent $1,000 on a powerful jammer to address the issue of employees focusing on their phones instead of providing quality service to customers.

He narrated how he repeatedly instructed them, stating firmly, "Lower your phones, lower your phones, lower your phones." However, they chose to disregard his directives. The owner revealed that FCC investigators extensively surveyed the neighborhood for a week, employing advanced equipment designed to detect signal jammers. Nevertheless, the owner had deactivated the equipment.

The Verizon investigators encountered a similar lack of success in their endeavors. As per the owner, the individual made extensive efforts by reaching out to every resident in the town, sharing his phone number, and urging them to contact him without delay if they encountered any problems. However, the owner has since decided to stop using the jammer.