Cheap Vehicle Insurance, New York’s ‘textalyzer’ could uncover distracted driving
New York lawmakers are looking at a bill that would allow police to use a piece of technology to see if a phone was in use during an accident. The device is called a textalyzer, a spin on the breathalyzer used by police in DUI charges, according Engadget. An Iserali company called Cellebrite already has a roadside device that can read cellphones, though different companies would be allowed to bid on having their technology used. Cellebrite is the company rumored to have assisted with federal agents’ attempt to break open the iPhone belonging to the San Bernardino shooter, reports Ars Technica.
The unprecedented piece of legislation would require drivers who have recently been in a crash to submit their cell phones to police for testing. The textalyzer wouldn’t be able to read contacts or content, such as what you write in your texts, but it would tell the cops if the phone was in use before the crash. Lobbying group Distracted Operators Risk Casualties pushed for the new law