Data Recorders In Your Car - the information found on two black boxes used in court case in Florida

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[chance33_98]

Data Recorders In Your Car

Shawn Boyd reporting Last Updated: May 14, 2003

Data recorders that work like those on commercial airliners are now standard equipment on most cars, they have been for several years. Two court cases are putting the information found on two black boxes to work for prosecutors in Florida and right here.

Edwin Mantos' trial began Wednesday in Broward County Florida. He's accused of running his Trans-Am into two teenage girls last August killing them. Data downloaded from his car's black box showed he was going 114 mph just before he hit them.

Diana Santi was killed in a car accident and the other driver, Manuel Martinez, survived and now faces a number of charges including murder. Metro did its usual crash investigation, but this time they took it further.

Plugging into what's often called a black box, the event data recorder is underneath the front passenger seat console or dash, as many as 40 million cars on the road have one. It's the brain that monitors and controls the car's airbag. But it also holds a wealth of information that can be used in accident reconstructions, engine speed, gas pedal pressure, brakes, and vehicle speed.

The SUV that Manuel Martinez was driving had a black box that revealed electronic secrets to investigating officer Mario Alfonsi. The SUV accelerated to 78 mph one second before impact according to the black box. Chief deputy DA Gary Booker is prosecuting Martinez.

The SUV's black box is giving him the backing evidence he feels will help him put Martinez away. Booker is looking to place blame and this will be the first time this kind of evidence is used in trial in Clark County.

[doodad]

I can't think of a plausible excuse for installing a data defeat device.

There are several PCM programmers on the market for several types of cars. Excuse? Well I can't pass emissions if the now nonexistant O2 sensors that the headers and y pipe eliminated are throwing code...so, I delete them via computer. I would be willing to bet you can already delete the date recovery function.

[dark_lord]

No. But the black boxes in the cars are there for reasons other than just recording. They are used for control of the engine and to detect problems. You, on the other hand, are proposing something completely different.

If the data chips in your car concern you, just buy an older model car (there are plenty in good condition down South) and maintain it. No more worries.

[coloradan]

No. But the black boxes in the cars are there for reasons other than just recording. They are used for control of the engine and to detect problems. You, on the other hand, are proposing something completely different.

Looks like a job for "smart" smoke detectors. Federally mandated smoke detectors ... with a bonus. (And, I already have an older model car.)

[Skip Ripley]

I agree. If there is a valid reason to obtain the data to aid in an ongoing investiagtion, I have no problem with the authorities getting a warrant and downloading the data.

If they are harvesting the data without any rhyme or reason to see if a crime might have been committed, I have an issue with that.

[Jack of all Trades]

I meant legal excuse. In my mind more horsepower is always a valid excuse. If you know of a programmer for Nissan engines, please post it or freepmail me.

Off topic, but why did you eliminate the O2 sensors? All my new exhaust hardware has ports for the stock sensors. Don't you need at least one to control AFR?

[VeniVidiVici]

Here is the one I use for my 2000 VW: http://www.ross-tech.com/

Quite cool. Wipe it, read existing values, modify parameters, etc.

If you type in the link manually MAKE SURE YOU PUT THE DASH BETWEEN ROSS and TECH!! Otherwise you get one of those spyware sites.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

http://www.freerepublic.com/perl/bump-list

[Capt. Tom]

welcome to amerika - This is a little too instrusive for me - any good forensics geek could reconstruct this. On-star bugs me too - but then again , I hear voices

You know that new smoke detector in your home. Every time it goes off, it sends a signal to a gathering source. Your insurance company can access that info and raise your fire insurance rates. Testing it don't count it only transmits info on an actual smoke induced alarm.

You can thwart the transmission by wrapping the detector is tinfoil. - tom

[jimt]

I would be willing to bet you can already delete the date recovery function.

You are correct. There are devices available which will allow you to overwrite virtually everything - and if you don't know what you're doing, making your car so it won't run at all.

[BraveMan]

I think these guys have what you are looking for . . .

[ElkGroveDan]

Thanks. Wow these things are all over the place. Do a search on ebay for OBD and you'll get hundreds of them, all shapes and prices.

[priceofreedom]

LOVIN MY "OLDER MODEL" 4X4 RIGHT NOW

[AmericaUnited]

I have an OBD unit that uses software on a PC for the data collection,mangement, and control. It's easy to reset "ALL" data.

[AmericaUnited]

People should be more concerned with their cell phones that record where they have been ( within a mile or two ) permanently!

[Mamzelle]

This will make lawsuits against car mfgers harder to win.

[Revelation 911]

You can thwart the transmission by wrapping the detector is tinfoil

First it was the tracking device in that mole behind my ear - now this - It should have no bearing on my rates - that fire was just burned pizza

[Revelation 911]

you can get airbags shut off in ny - though it takes an act of God

I suspect a magnet would work - so would a power drill and a few sharp bits

[Poohbah]

I have wondered whether there is an electronic signal that could be radio transmitted that could trigger the airbag.

Since the airbag is fired by electromechanical means--namely, a very violent deceleration moves the switch--that "eletronic signal" would have to accelerate a good-sized weight.

Point a phased-array radar at a ball-bearing and see if you can make it move...

[dark_lord]

Which simply means that a mechanical source activates an electrical signal. Here is an airbag schematic (not for real but a teaching example.) It appears to contain IC circuitry -- and IC circuitry if not properly shielded is susceptible to RF.

[Poohbah]

It appears to contain IC circuitry -- and IC circuitry if not properly shielded is susceptible to RF.

Yeah. The steel in your car's frame is more than enough shielding.