Thousands using GPS jammers to disguise over-long hours or stolen cars

"Lorry and taxi drivers who are monitored to prevent them driving for illegally long hours can also use them to avoid detection"

As far as I'm aware, taxi drivers aren't subject to any working hours regulations. (Yawns, rubs eyes)

First - internet enforcement does exist... In places like the UK.

GPS and radar jammers are penalised especially hard in Oz, the same country that has one of the highest rates of 'discreet' 'traffic monitoring' - sure, speeding is a bad thing, but some states will fine a driver for being 3km/h over a 60+ limit, and hide the cameras in roadside wheelie bins, traffic cones, and so on. It really is a massive revenue stream.

Many people will buy something like a GPS jammer simply because they don't like the 'Big Brother' approach. Sure, if you're not doing anything wrong, you have nothing to worry about. Headlines like this do sensationalise the issues, but there is sometimes a grain of truth in the scaremongering.

Blatant flouting of the law.
http://www.jammer4uk.com/car-gps-jammer-c-1.html
They even sell one disguised as a packet of Marlboro.
There seem to be loads of sites like this.
Could it be internet enforcement is lagging behind?

With my amateur radio hat on, I can confirm that any kind of radio jammer has been illegal since the 1949 Wireless Telegraphy Act. Seems to me that Ofcom and the Police should be cracking down on this. This amount of radio noise could be fatal near an airport or life support equipment.

a tracker would only transmit a signal if it has some way of broadcasting, and it would typically use a mobile phone signal to do so (GPS is after all a one way system).

But even if a tracker system relied on periodic downloads, you'd hope suspicious blank patches would be noticed! Especially on commercial vehicles that are known to be in use.

In Australia, where mobile and GPS signal is often a matter of life or death, importing, selling or operating a jammer can and has got people ~$250k fines and / or 5 years inside. They don't fsck around with this sort of thing, neither should the UK govt.

Wondering if these things could stop drone aircraft?

The point abut jammers, as it says in the story, is that while it is illegal to use them, and sell them in the UK - it is not illegal to buy them, and if you are buying over the internet the vendor is very likely to be from somewhere that the EU's writ doesn't run.

On the legality of Jammers from Ofcom:

Jammers are devices which are intended to prevent radio equipment from receiving and transmitting the signals relevant to their function. Use of such devices therefore constitutes the specific offence of causing interference.
Legality of wireless telegraphy equipment
Section 8 of the 2006 Act forbids the installation or use of wireless telegraphy equipment (radio) in the UK mainland Northern Ireland and territorial waters, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, unless an appropriate licence has been obtained from Ofcom, or there are Regulations in force exempting it from the licensing requirements.

and

Jammers are also subject to the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive (EMC) Directive EC89/336 as amended, which has been implemented into UK law by the Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations 2006 (Sl 2006/3418). These regulations specify that all electrical and electronic apparatus placed on the market or taken into service in the UK, including imports, satisfy specific requirements to ensure that they do not cause excessive electromagnetic interference or are adversely affected by it and have to carry the CE mark to show compliance. The European Commission supports Members States’ views that since jammers by their nature cause significant electromagnetic interference it is likely that most do not comply with the UK regulations and therefore they cannot be legally placed on the UK market. The maximum penalty for supplying non-compliant equipment under the regulations is a fine of up to £5,000. The courts can order forfeiture of stocks of equipment. Ofcom will take appropriate enforcement action, including prosecution, to enforce the above legal provisions.

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/enforcement/spectrum-enforcement/jammers/

Despite all these risks, the devices are completely legal and are sold widely.
It is an offence only under the Wireless Telegraphy Act to "knowingly use" such a device to block GPS signals

Quote:

No, jammers are illegal to use in the UK (radio, GPS, mobile phone, etc).

Perhaps it is legal to sell the devices but not to actually use them?

GPS and mobile phones operate on licensed spectrum bands, any broadcasts of any power on these bands is illegal by definition. I think OFCOM has responsibility for this.

Quote:

Despite all these risks, the devices are completely legal and are sold widely.

No, jammers are illegal to use in the UK (radio, GPS, mobile phone, etc).

Mobile phone blockers generally also block GPS. Hours of fun in the quiet coach of my commuter train. All the stupid self-important people who just can't restrain themselves for 30 minutes, suddenly cut off

Please tell me the insurers look for positive GPS traces and aren't fooled by this or any other GPS failure!

Insurance wangling, GPS tracker lowers premiums.

Tachographs are only compulsory for certain categories of vehicles operating over certain ranges. Drivers of, for instance, recovery vehicles operating within a 100km radius of their home base aren't covered.

The other reason professional drivers might be using these is that their employers track them through GPS devices in the vehicles. And at that point I can't really elaborate for professional reasons.

How about these low flying planes as well eh, all it will take is for one 747 to fly 500 metres above one of these lorry driving menaces and who knows what will happen!

Worse yet are the dastardly Chinese jammers, up to 500km, so folk in France will be screwed as well !!

Russian jammers block signal for 100km? Really?? So if I fire one up in London everyone from Watford to Croydon just vanishes from the grid?

Don't truck drivers still need to use a tachograph to record their hours so wouldn't be able to get away with driving more than permitted?

Bloody annoying if one goes past when you're going for a KOM!