SMS speed-trap service faces Finnish ban

The Finnish government is considering banning a controversial SMS speed camera alert service.

Norwegian company Cellus has launched the service, which sends a text message to drivers when they approach a speed camera, in various European countries. It has managed to attract thousands of subscribers.

But the Finnish government said it is considering banning the service because all other speed camera-dodging devices are illegal in the country.

Erkki Pulliainen, an MP and the representative of the Finnish government's traffic committee, told the Finnish press: "It is still legal to send an SMS to alert drivers of the speed cams. But it shouldn't be and it won't be for long."

The service works thanks to the input of the subscribers themselves. Whenever drivers see a police speed trap, they send a text message to a central server, which broadcasts it to all the subscribers in the area. It costs FMK3,50 (35p) per alert.

Cellus is still going ahead with its planned spring launch in the UK, according to marketing director Tina Borresen.

Police in Norway - the home of Cellus - are divided on the matter.

Borresen told silicon.com: "Some are dead against it, but some policemen say it's a preventive measure as the service can help drivers to be more careful. Maybe that'll be the case in the UK."