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--------Can we solve part of this problem through a smartphone app? ----------------- Here are my initial thoughts on how it would work, feel free to comment o

--------Can we solve part of this problem through a smartphone app? ----------------- Here are my initial thoughts on how it would work, feel free to comment on better ways to implement it / other features 1) If you get pulled over by a cop, you start up the smart phone app and place the phone in the windshield mount (the mount should have power so the phone battery doesn't die) 2) When the app starts, it immediately starts recording (or streaming) audio and video 3) The app quickly connects/matches you to a real lawyer versed in your state's laws 4) Your newly matched lawyer can listen in on the subsequent conversation between you and the police officer. Or alternatively, the lawyer could act as a buffer and do all the talking with the police officer. Benefits of the app: 5) Since the police officer knows he's being recorded, he may act nicer and more appropriately. 6) If the cop does try to "play games" such as holding the person without arresting, then the lawyer can quickly "step in" and ask the cop if his client is free to leave or whether he is under arrest. Problems that I'm not sure how to solve: 7) Maybe the cop will tell the driver to step out of the car and around to the back of the vehicle - with the motivation of getting out of earshot of the lawyer/smartphone app. 8) Looking through a cynical lens, this app may face scrutiny by cop unions opposed to it - in how to shut it down

javajosh 12y ago
It's a good idea, but it hinges entirely on streaming at least audio, as it hinges on getting real-time help of a lawyer. It also assumes that there are lots of lawyers out there sitting at a computer and willing to listen to police convos, and step in, for free. Perhaps lawyers would want to be involved as a loss leader for new business? I don't know.
- lsc 12y ago
  >Perhaps lawyers would want to be involved as a loss leader for new business? I don't know. There are a bunch of business models. I mean, you could price it like insurance. I pay a monthly fee and you guarantee someone is there to get my ass out of a sling if required. Heck, you could price it like insurance, too; charge me based on perceived risk, and raise my rates if I actually use it. I mean, I carry liability insurance against civil suits... Maybe you could talk me into paying for similar insurance against criminal charges?
  - solutionviatech 12y ago
    - Great idea about pricing it like insurance and charging based on perceived risk! I wonder if people that carry large amounts of cash around with them sometimes (i.e. restaurateurs) would want to use the app - and they could deduct the monthly fee as a business expense. - Another market would be people who may feel like they get pulled over by the police more often than normal. In this use case, maybe the ACLU would be willing to pay for access to the data/statistics from the phone calls.
- FiatLuxDave 12y ago
  It would make a lot more sense to run it like a call center, where low cost personnel would monitor the routine calls and then escalate it to the lawyer on duty when it was obvious that there was a problem.
DanBC 12y ago
Isn't step 2 illegal in some states? I think, but I could he wrong, that Illinous prevents audio recording without permission.
- solutionviatech 12y ago
  Regarding Illinois: - From this article [1], it looks like Illinois used to have laws prevents audio recording, but the Illinois Supreme Court recently overturned those laws. The court ruled you're not only within your rights to record law enforcement, but also to record public officials and private citizens when they do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as a loud argument on the street or yelling fans at an athletic event. Regarding illegal in some states: - For any state where it is illegal to record a police officer, the app could just relay the audio/video signal to the lawyer without recording. The important part is that the driver has representation and the lawyer can still witness what takes place. [1] https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140320/11095226634/il-overturns-states-insane-recording-laws.shtml https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140320/11095226634/il-ov...

javajosh 12y ago

It's a good idea, but it hinges entirely on streaming at least audio, as it hinges on getting real-time help of a lawyer. It also assumes that there are lots of lawyers out there sitting at a computer and willing to listen to police convos, and step in, for free. Perhaps lawyers would want to be involved as a loss leader for new business? I don't know.

lsc 12y ago
>Perhaps lawyers would want to be involved as a loss leader for new business? I don't know. There are a bunch of business models. I mean, you could price it like insurance. I pay a monthly fee and you guarantee someone is there to get my ass out of a sling if required. Heck, you could price it like insurance, too; charge me based on perceived risk, and raise my rates if I actually use it. I mean, I carry liability insurance against civil suits... Maybe you could talk me into paying for similar insurance against criminal charges?
- solutionviatech 12y ago
  - Great idea about pricing it like insurance and charging based on perceived risk! I wonder if people that carry large amounts of cash around with them sometimes (i.e. restaurateurs) would want to use the app - and they could deduct the monthly fee as a business expense. - Another market would be people who may feel like they get pulled over by the police more often than normal. In this use case, maybe the ACLU would be willing to pay for access to the data/statistics from the phone calls.
FiatLuxDave 12y ago
It would make a lot more sense to run it like a call center, where low cost personnel would monitor the routine calls and then escalate it to the lawyer on duty when it was obvious that there was a problem.

DanBC 12y ago

Isn't step 2 illegal in some states? I think, but I could he wrong, that Illinous prevents audio recording without permission.

solutionviatech 12y ago
Regarding Illinois: - From this article [1], it looks like Illinois used to have laws prevents audio recording, but the Illinois Supreme Court recently overturned those laws. The court ruled you're not only within your rights to record law enforcement, but also to record public officials and private citizens when they do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as a loud argument on the street or yelling fans at an athletic event. Regarding illegal in some states: - For any state where it is illegal to record a police officer, the app could just relay the audio/video signal to the lawyer without recording. The important part is that the driver has representation and the lawyer can still witness what takes place. [1] https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140320/11095226634/il-overturns-states-insane-recording-laws.shtml https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140320/11095226634/il-ov...