Is Your Phone Snitching on You to the DMV?

By: John Guidry

America, land of the free. But, not free from corporate Big Brother.

A new iPhone app threatens to turn the free citizens of Orlando into Big Brother snitches, and it’s called DriveMeCrazy. This app allows anyone to report a motorist’s poor driving, and as a consequence, the driver will receive a virtual “ticket”.

Doesn’t sound like a big deal, right?

However, what happens to someone accused of DUI who has racked up years’ worth of “virtual tickets” for drunk driving behavior? This new app could turn DUI sentencings into a nightmare.

Worried about your digital driving record?

Digital evidence is becoming a weapon in court. Call John today at (407) 423-1117.

The Virtual “Ticket” That Could Cost You Real Freedom

The DriveMeCrazy app issues a “virtual ticket” to your tag number every time another driver rats you out. This ticket has detailed information regarding the date, time, and location of the offense—all of which is reportedly sent to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and insurance companies!

The app specifically encourages reporting drunk drivers. I know this sounds like harmless Good Samaritan stuff, right?

The Nightmare Scenario Imagine a sentencing on a second-time DUI offense. Normally, if it’s outside of 5 years, there is no mandatory jail time. But what if the prosecutor shows up with a two-year history of virtual drunk driving tickets generated by anonymous users?

• The Result: That “no jail” deal might vanish. The prosecutor could argue you are a habitual danger to the public, even without prior convictions.

Potential for Abuse

The potential for law enforcement and prosecutor abuse here is substantial because the only identifier is a tag number.

• Voice Recognition Reporting: The app allows anonymous reporting via voice.
• The “Teenager” Problem: If my 18-year-old daughter drives my car and drives poorly, those virtual tickets go on my virtual driving record.
• The “Ex-Spouse” Problem: What stops a vengeful ex or an angry neighbor from repeatedly reporting your tag number just to destroy your record?

It appears that this system does not take shared vehicles into account. If the vehicle tag is registered to you, you are getting all the virtual tickets.

The Legal Battle Ahead We know this information is going to the DMV. The real question is: How long before this driver info gets into the hands of prosecutors? In Florida, “Sunshine Laws” allow for broad public records requests. It shouldn’t take long for prosecutors—or defense attorneys—to access this data. Worse yet, what if police start stopping cars simply based on an anonymous computer entry from this app?

Looks like we Orlando criminal defense attorneys can look forward to filing more Motions to Suppress in the future.

John’s 2025 Update: From “Neighbor Snitching” to “Self-Snitching”

Note: The “DriveMeCrazy” app mentioned above eventually faded into obscurity, but the concept of digital snitching has become much worse.

In 2011, we worried about other people reporting us. Today, the problem is that we are reporting ourselves.

1. The “Safe Driver” Discount Trap Insurance companies now push you to install their own apps (or physical dongles) to track your driving in exchange for a “discount.” These apps track hard braking, speed, and late-night driving.

• The Reality: That data creates a permanent profile of your driving habits that can raise your rates or potentially be subpoenaed in a serious accident case.

2. The Silent Data Brokers Even if you don’t use an insurance app, apps like GasBuddy, Life360, and even your car’s built-in navigation system may be selling your driving data to data brokers (like LexisNexis). Insurance companies then buy this data to raise your rates without you ever knowing why.

The Bottom Line: The “virtual ticket” is real, but now it’s generated by your own pocket. If you are involved in a serious accident or DUI, we must assume that digital data exists and move quickly to preserve or suppress it.

Call me at (407) 423-1117. Let’s protect your digital footprint.

About John Guidry II

John Guidry II is a seasoned criminal defense attorney and founder of the Law Firm of John P. Guidry II, P.A., located in downtown Orlando next to the Orange County Courthouse, where he has practiced for over 30 years. With more than three decades of experience defending clients throughout Central Florida since 1993, Guidry has successfully defended thousands of cases in Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake, and Volusia counties. He has built a reputation for his strategic approach to criminal defense, focusing on pretrial motions and case dismissals rather than jury trials.

Guidry earned both his Juris Doctorate and Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University in 1993. He is a member of the Florida Bar and the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. His practice encompasses the full spectrum of Florida state criminal charges, with a particular emphasis on achieving favorable outcomes through thorough pretrial preparation and motion practice.

Beyond the courtroom, Guidry is a prolific legal educator who has authored over 400 articles on criminal defense topics. He shares his legal expertise through his popular YouTube channel, Instagram, and TikTok accounts, where he has built a substantial following of people eager to learn about the law. His educational content breaks down complex legal concepts into accessible information for the general public.

When not practicing law, Guidry enjoys tennis and pickleball, and loves to travel. Drawing from his background as a former recording studio owner and music video producer in the Orlando area, he brings a creative perspective to his legal practice and continues to apply his passion for video production to his educational content.