[Mike SX]

Police to seize mobiles in EVERY car crash | Mail Online

[The Gonz]

Seems like common sense forensics to me, and not really surprising from the most surveilled nation on earth.

[Doggie 1]

Good move.

[PhireSideZA]

Seems like the UK is becoming a real nanny state lately :/

But I guess in a world of always-connected, what else can a person do?

[Shambles]

I think it's a brilliant idea.

[AlanHo]

It's a good idea - but I worry that people will find their way around it.

For example - I keep a spare pay-as-you-go mobile in my glove box which is there as a back-up because I sometimes forget to take my mobile with me. It rarely gets used. If people do this - which phone will they hand over?

The police already have the power to check on a persons mobile usage via the network provider - they should (and perhaps are?) be doing this for every accident causing third party damage or injury.

[Doggie 1]

I know that over here it isn't an easy process to check mobile phone calls via the carrier.
It's a lengthy process involving warrants and doesn't always provide the answers anyway.
We recently had a case over here where a doctor was driving her car, allegedly on the phone and ran into the back of a parked delivery truck causing the truck driver, who was unloading at the time, to lose both legs.
The doctor pleaded not guilty, phone records were obtained, but at the end of the day the "expert" witnesses from the carrier was unable to 100% state that the times quoted were entirely accurate, saying that there could be a discrepancy of a few seconds.
This led to the doctor being acquitted and allowed to walk.
Something that the young truck driver will never do again.
I think seizure of phones may show if they were half way through texting if the text is still on the screen etc, otherwise, I wish them well.

[eye30]

I say i'm for it if the car does not have hands free.
 however, caution will need to be taken especially hands free units as theses are the acceptable way to use phones whilst moving ..


Also, if passenger in the car what if they say they were using the phone and not the driver.....

[beerman]

Overkill,

Though with pin numbers there is not much they can do with them anyway.....

Also there are Apps developed to erase the contents of the phone anyway. Even my virus software allows me to erase my phone if it becomes lost or stolen.....

[Just Rick]

It amazes me,they say they want to do something about the mobile phone use in vehicles but their not serious about it,there are available to the public, short distance mobile Jammers(several feet) just legislate that all vehicles be fitted with them in a tamperproof casing,if you do happen to disable the jammer it will also disable the car,
Same as governments are not serious about doing anything about smokers and drinking related affences

[Doggie 1]

Overkill,

Though with pin numbers there is not much they can do with them anyway.....

Also there are Apps developed to erase the contents of the phone anyway. Even my virus software allows me to erase my phone if it becomes lost or stolen.....

PINs are easily overcome.
I agree with it.
If my family was wiped out I would certainly want the other driver's mobile phone checked to see if they were talking or texting at the time.
I keep thinking about the doctor from Pemberton, W.A. who lost three kids to a texting driver in, I think, Denmark.
It needs to be done to lock up the baddies and make them responsible.

[Just Rick]

I'm with you Dave

[Doggie 1]

   Rick.

[beerman]

Overkill,

Though with pin numbers there is not much they can do with them anyway.....

Also there are Apps developed to erase the contents of the phone anyway. Even my virus software allows me to erase my phone if it becomes lost or stolen.....

PINs are easily overcome.
I agree with it.
If my family was wiped out I would certainly want the other driver's mobile phone checked to see if they were talking or texting at the time.
I keep thinking about the doctor from Pemberton, W.A. who lost three kids to a texting driver in, I think, Denmark.
It needs to be done to lock up the baddies and make them responsible.

Pin protects at the scene, while the delete app takes care of the rest. By the time a cellebrite hits the phone it is like a new one.

I'm sure if your family was wiped out, the other driver's phone would be taken anyway. Still no reason to take the phones from a minor nose to tail...

Mind you it would be massive for intel.

[Mike SX]

Police are unlikely to be at the accident scene, simultaneously.
Crash for Cash villains, will have a formula to avoid this
So the usual b'stards will just dump their 'phones and maybe even report them as stolen; although the last GPS position may be recorded 
The number of inveterate liars ("worth a try, ain't it" sic) around never ceases to amaze me 

[beerman]

Cash for Crash villains will leave their phones at home......

[Mike SX]

Cash for Crash villains will leave their phones at home......

Quick thinking Batman 

[The Gonz]

Really? A great problem of our times is that nobody leaves his or her phone at home.

[Lester]

What a positive idea for accident investigation.   Personally, I am of the opinion police should be empowered to confiscate the phone of any person they detect using the phone whilst driving.

  Yes, I was a mean bugger on the road in my past life.

So bring on the mobile phone police !!

[beerman]

Really? A great problem of our times is that nobody leaves his or her phone at home.

If they are going to commit an act of fraud they probably would be advised to, but the stupid ones wont.....