In their defense, what else is there to do in Yukon, Oklahoma?

That's why drug dealers shouldn't carry a BlackBerry. I must've accidentally dialed 911 a half dozen times with my Bold before I realized what was going on and got a holster for it.

Like manna from heaven for law enforcement.

This is why I use a Costco-sized cell phone, like that one guy from Trigger Happy TV.

Scary thing is, there's likely a capacity to remote-listen with many or all cell phones.

New plan: force the phone to silently dial out to 911, use this feature for an illegal bugging, then act on your documented probable cause!

Actually, this IS kinda scary. Homeland Security or some other beast could, hypothetically, program the phone to call out silently and mute the 911 operator. Thus involving the police in the audio recording and summoning them to the scene with documented probable cause without the police even KNOWING they were involved.

That must have been an even easier bust than searching for idiots selling drugs on craigslist

I has a sad

this guy looks like he definitely got into the stash before the bust

Oznog: Scary thing is, there's likely a capacity to remote-listen with many or all cell phones.

New plan: force the phone to silently dial out to 911, use this feature for an illegal bugging, then act on your documented probable cause!

Actually, this IS kinda scary. Homeland Security or some other beast could, hypothetically, program the phone to call out silently and mute the 911 operator. Thus involving the police in the audio recording and summoning them to the scene with documented probable cause without the police even KNOWING they were involved.

I think your tinfoil hat is too tight.

Lets make a dope deal!

maybe cops who are illegally listening in (Bush wiretaps) just claim that they dialed 9/11 to get around the illegal wiretapping laws.

LEO's would never lie would they?

Yukon, Oklahoma sounds like a lonely town for some reason.

Also, those mug shots are hilarious.

Key Guard is your friend against Butt-Dialing. So is just turning the damn thing off. Even flip/clam shell designs fail if you get a quarter or your car keys in between it.

We must all be vigilant against Butt-Dialing, citizens.

Don't most phones allow emergency dialling when locked?

Cog: Oznog: Scary thing is, there's likely a capacity to remote-listen with many or all cell phones.

New plan: force the phone to silently dial out to 911, use this feature for an illegal bugging, then act on your documented probable cause!

Actually, this IS kinda scary. Homeland Security or some other beast could, hypothetically, program the phone to call out silently and mute the 911 operator. Thus involving the police in the audio recording and summoning them to the scene with documented probable cause without the police even KNOWING they were involved.

I think your tinfoil hat is too tight.

Or maybe not tight enough LOL

I pulled a sickie today and came home to do a bit of work on my house. I noticed in my call log later that I had recieved a call from my boss' phone. I had left my bluetooth headset and cellphone on the workbench with the phone programmed to autoanswer. I probably didn't hear the phone ring due to the skilsaw or cut-off saw that I was using to cut floor joists. Call was logged at 9.36 minutes. Busted!!

Damn technology!

Oznog: Scary thing is, there's likely a capacity to remote-listen with many or all cell phones.

New plan: force the phone to silently dial out to 911, use this feature for an illegal bugging, then act on your documented probable cause!

Actually, this IS kinda scary. Homeland Security or some other beast could, hypothetically, program the phone to call out silently and mute the 911 operator. Thus involving the police in the audio recording and summoning them to the scene with documented probable cause without the police even KNOWING they were involved.

Cog:I think your tinfoil hat is too tight.

It's speculative, yes.
However, hardly implausible.
The FBI HAS used OnStar to bug people's cars, and you can't do diddley to turn it off; it's built into the car. There's a silent remote-activation of the microphone possible.

The mere revelation that this was possible has made many people nervous. Plenty of people discuss important, completely licit things like political or business strategies have people who would pay a lot to eavesdrop on them. Potentially people who have enemies within the government or the company which runs the OnStar.

I have run into phones where for some reason locking the keys disables everything but dialing 911. Naturally the odds of accidentally dialing 911 are several orders of magnitude higher this way.

Police said the phone that placed the 911 call was a stolen cell phone.

Even better! Talk about Karma?

Either learn how to lock the key pad properly or get a flip phone.

Has no sympathy for douchebag drug dealers.

macsenwledig: I pulled a sickie today and came home to do a bit of work on my house. I noticed in my call log later that I had recieved a call from my boss' phone. I had left my bluetooth headset and cellphone on the workbench with the phone programmed to autoanswer. I probably didn't hear the phone ring due to the skilsaw or cut-off saw that I was using to cut floor joists. Call was logged at 9.36 minutes. Busted!!

Damn technology!

No. You were sick... That was your brother/uncle/dad/contractor/neighbor using your tools. You had left those on the hood of your BMW/Focus/Acura/Sunfire/Vespa when you went inside to Puke/Poop/Pass out/Pound the Pud/Pontificate.

PSA
FAIL

sephjnr: Don't most phones allow emergency dialling when locked?

Maybe our dear submittard didn't know that

Most of the cell phones I've owned have allowed dialing 911 and 112 even when locked(112 being the Yurpean emergency number)

There are programs that if downloaded onto your phone which allows someone to listen in on your every word, even while your cellphone is off. The only way to disable it is to remove the battery. It has been used against organized crime too get convictions. With the right software someone can also use your cellphone and the towers to track you like a GPS.

That's why I would recommend being very vigilant regarding what you download to your phone and from where. The software has to be manually downloaded, kind of like a Trojan Horse.

All phones can dial 999, 911, 112 (and possibly some other numbers I don't know) when locked. That is all.

macsenwledig: I pulled a sickie today and came home to do a bit of work on my house. I noticed in my call log later that I had recieved a call from my boss' phone. I had left my bluetooth headset and cellphone on the workbench with the phone programmed to autoanswer. I probably didn't hear the phone ring due to the skilsaw or cut-off saw that I was using to cut floor joists. Call was logged at 9.36 minutes. Busted!!

Damn technology!

Luckily it was just your boss' phone accidentally dialing you

gopher321: In their defense, what else is there to do in Yukon, Oklahoma?

The livestock?

Bodine Wilson: I have run into phones where for some reason locking the keys disables everything but dialing 911. Naturally the odds of accidentally dialing 911 are several orders of magnitude higher this way.

every phone I've ever had that isn't a flip type has been able to dial 999 without unlocking the keypad. A friends phone actually boosted both reception and battery power if you dialled 999 so that it could make the emergency call.

/UK based

Blackberries are horrendous for being able to dial 911. I've only had them from back when they had the scroll wheel only, but even after the wheel "clicked" in to place I don't know how many times the emergency call option floated into selection while I was in the middle of typing my password. One time I think I called 911 3 times in a row, which I did talk to the person and told them that the blackberry kept hopping and they did say that it happens all of the time. You'd think they'd address this issue, yes you want it easy to place an emergency call if you need to, but you don't want it to be that easy.

Oznog: The FBI HAS used OnStar to bug people's cars, and you can't do diddley to turn it off; it's built into the car.

You could not buy GM vehicles.

abigsmurf: All phones can dial 999, 911, 112 (and possibly some other numbers I don't know) when locked. That is all.

Yeah, try dialing 911 on a locked iPhone. You can't because there is no number pad. That is all, or is it?

abigsmurf: All phones can dial 999, 911, 112 (and possibly some other numbers I don't know) when locked. That is all.

mine can't.
/touchscreen

This is why I've disabled voice command on my phone, and made sure I can't pocket dial.

I've used flip cell phones for like 7 years now and it's never once dialed anyone or anything without direct intervention of my fingers.

Cell phone can still call 911 when locked, at least they can in Europe where you can use the emergency number you're used to in case 112 is to hard to remember.

Bodine Wilson: I have run into phones where for some reason locking the keys disables everything but dialing 911. Naturally the odds of accidentally dialing 911 are several orders of magnitude higher this way.

This right here. The phone I use for an alarm clock restricts what number you can dial when locked to 911. And you can only put them in in that order. So if you mash the keypad it'll grab only the 9. 3 smashes and bam, 911. Terrible design. I got real good at apologizing to 911. Thankfully I have a new phone now.

Heck, my last blackberry could make emergency calls when locked even without dialing "9" "1" "1" send. When you mash the keys, it simply asks you "Make an emergency call? Y/N/M?"

I let some kids play with my cell phone at a daycare once thinking they couldn't do anything with it while locked. Boy was I surprised when I got a call back from the Emergency Hotline :P