The Anniston Star ● Sunday, September 8, 2013 ● Page 6E
SUNDAY RECORD YOUR GUIDE TO PUBLIC RECORDS AND VITAL STATISTICS IN CALHOUN COUNTY BANKRUPTCIES
DEATHS Geraldine Hand Anderson, Ranburne Lorene W. Carter, Tennessee Fred Chapman, Anniston George Lee Clackum, Georgia Joseph Vaughan Dryden Jr., Muscadine Sara Anne Weaver Fannin, Roanoke Thelma Freeman, Anniston Gilbert Gentry, Anniston Bonita J. Grant, Anniston Wallace Kenyon Gunnells, Anniston Annie Ruth Hase, Anniston Bess Hayes, Oxford Kenneth “Dwayne” Isbell, Oxford Rachel Johnston, Jacksonville James Wade Robert Jones, Centre Carol Ledbetter Kiser, Goshen Gloria Ledbetter, Anniston Wilmer Manley, Talladega Hilda McDonald, Lineville Lonnie J. Miller, Eastaboga Mary Jo Moore, Tennessee
Gertie Montgomery, Ohatchee Dorothy Mae Muncher, Anniston Mary Ruth Norton, Centre Bette Ball Pope, Anniston Juanita Davis Raney, Anniston Leman Terrell Russell, Anniston Tony E. Smith, Roanoke Bertha Sloan, Anniston Doris Mae Free Stewart, Anniston Ollie Armstrong Stewart, Piedmont Monica Mulholland Stokes, Anniston Thomas “Gus” Talley, Anniston Gladys Edwina Taylor, Alexandria Carven “Jack” Teague, Anniston Janice Carol Wadkins, Anniston Steven Floyd “Shorty” White, Alexander City Mary Frank Traylor Willingham, Wedowee Willie Wright Sr., Atlanta
RATE OF BANKRUPTCIES 1515 14
1212 9
9
6
6
10
9
A Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows the debtor to retain certain exempt property, but the debtor’s remaining property is gathered and sold by a trustee from which creditors will receive payment. It may also be used by businesses which wish to terminate their business. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy enables debtors, through court supervision and protection, to propose and carry out a repayment plan under which creditors are paid, in full or in part, in installments over a three-year period. During that time, debtors are prohibited from starting or continuing collection efforts. The following bankruptcies declared by Calhoun County residents were recorded by U.S. Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Alabama last week:
Chapter 7
MARRIAGE LICENSES • Corey Scott McCord of Oxford to April Danielle Perry of Oxford • Jordan Christopher McGuffey of Oxford to Taylor Jean Turley of Oxford • Jason Ray Ballenger of Jacksonville to Danielle Lynn Poole of Jacksonville • Baron Thomas Reaves of Alexandria to Sabrina Kay Smith of Wellington • Roger Garfield Honeycutt of Anniston to Shirley Ann Maddox of Anniston • Daniel Jay Hardy of Anniston to Amy Elizabeth Henry of Anniston • Quinton Marcelles Johnson of Anniston to Elizabeth Michelle Barker of Oxford • Corey Evan Siskey of Jacksonville to Ayla Lashae Bedwell of Jacksonville • Kyle Travis Schumaker of Jacksonville to Kaitlin Alyssa Porter
CATTLE SALE
of Anniston • Steven James Vinyard of Piedmont to Brittany Nicole Dunagan of Jacksonville • Isaac Bernard Chappell III of Anniston to Jharielle Symone Greathouse of Anniston • Raphael Dewayne Groce of Anniston to Tekoreia Nykol Bradford of Anniston • Jose Artemio Pizano of Anniston to Maria Del Carmen Morales of Anniston • William Chad Chandler of Anniston to Jessica Erin Anderson of Anniston • Brandon Nichalas Foster of Anniston to Audriea Santrice Moon of Oxford • Richard Keith Coffman of Weaver to Lorie Gibson Coffman of Anniston • Tyler Scott Teneyck of Anniston to Donna Marie Donaldson of Anniston
• James E. Bishop and Dena R. Bishop, Allred Street, Oxford • Merrick Tyrel Tucker, Ridgeview Drive, Alexandria • Alisha Murphy and Anthony Murphy, 12th Avenue Northeast, Jacksonville • Charles Joe Lankford, Briarwood Avenue, Eastaboga • Michael A. Davis and Lisa M. Davis, Timberway, Weaver • Brian J. Cate, Michael Court, Oxford DIVORCES • Virginia M. Welch, Gardner Drive Southeast, Jacksonville • Jose Arturo Padilla John Ovie Story Chapter 13 and Sandra Garcia • Melody Dean Kirby Israel • Heath Davidson, Glade Road, Anniston • Jennifer Moll-Cutie Davis and Barry Grant • Daniel A. Jones, Canterbury Court, and Gustavo Moll- Davis Anniston • Barry W. Britt and Cutie • Joyce Ann Story and Patricia L. Britt
FORECLOSURES
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• Melinda Kaye Cosper and Cathy Gibbs Cosper, Leonard Martin subdivision, lots 4 and 5. • Grace Spurlock and Thomas F. Spurlock, a parcel of land in section 16, township 13, range 7. • Christopher S. Reeves, Anniston Homestead & Fruitgrowers Assoc., lot 1921. • Randall Tucker and Summer Harness, Willow Creek subdivision, 4th addition, lot 26.
Here is the livestock market report for the Tuesday sale. Receipts for this week 762 compared to 840 last week. Receipts a year ago 603.
FEEDER CLASSES:
Bulls and steers (Medium and Large No. 1 and No. 2): 200-300 lbs. 175.00 to 245.00; 300-400 lbs. 170.00 to 225.00; 400-500 lbs. 146.00 to 199.00; 500-600 lbs. 131.00 to 170.00; 600700 lbs. 108.00 to 150.00. Heifers (Medium and Large No. 1 and No. 2): 200-300 lbs. 155.00 to 195.00; 300400 lbs. 149.00 to 167.50; 400-500 lbs. 132.00 to 162.00; 500-600 lbs. 128.00 to 140.00; 600-700 lbs. 121.00 to 134.00.
SLAUGHTER CLASSES:
Cows: Breakers 76.00 to 80.00; Boners 81.50 to 90.00; Lean 71.00 to 75.00. Bulls: Normal Dressing 54-58% 95.50 to 97.50; High Dressing >58% 100.00 to 107.00; Low Dressing
INCORPORATIONS
• 2 Bee Soft LLC • AlaServe Northeast LLC • Tricycles and Mud Puddles LLC • Gamecock Computers LLC
Dissolved • Mattress Smart LLC
EDITOR’S NOTE
WILLS PROBATED
The material inside the Sunday Record is • Stanley Neal Johnson recorded by The Anniston Star from various institutions and government offices. The Anniston Star The public records are published as they COMMUNITY appeared on the documents obtained by the newspaper. Direct questions and comments about Your news, Your way, Sunday Record to Isaac Godwin at igodwin@ Every Saturday annistonstar.com.
ARRESTS The people listed in this arrest report, whose names and • Wesley Merriel Martin, 31: possession of controlled subcharges are obtained from public records, are presumed stance. innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. • Montez Lajuan Burns, 28: first-degree possession of marijuana. Anniston • James Leonard Johnson, 46: third-degree burglary. The following felony arrests were reported by the Anniston • Christopher Wayne Willimgham, 39: distributing a conPolice Department (addresses not provided) during the trolled substance. seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thursday. • Everett Lindsay Harris, 48: second-degree receiving stolen Calhoun County property. • Justin Aundre Lee, 22: breaking and entering a vehicle. The following felony arrests were reported by the Calhoun • Jennifer Lee Aguilar, 46: breaking and entering a vehicle. County Sheriff’s Office during the seven-day period ending • Rodney Durand Reynolds, 44: third-degree robbery. at 7 a.m. Thursday. • Marcus William Collins, 37: possession of a controlled • Justin Edward Davis, 21, of Piedmont: second-degree substance, first-degree possession of marijuana. escape, failure to appear in court, alias warrant. • Jerome Martrial Satcher, 25: hold for other agency. • Jonathan Cody Taber, 28, of Anniston: escape. • Darius Stevan Murray, 29: first-degree receiving stolen • Larry Vincent Jr., 50, of Anniston: failure to appear in court. property. • Christopher Oneal Heit, 26, of Anniston: failure to appear
in court. • Brian Rivera-Rosario, 51, of Anniston: bond revocation. • Tavaris Mann Slater, 18, of Anniston: failure to appear in court. • Bill William Lewis, 24, of Jacksonville: third-degree burglary. • Ashley Ann Shears, 29, of Oxford: second-degree theft. • Norman John Garrod, 56, of Opelika: violation of the Community Notification Act.
Oxford
The following felony arrests were reported by the Oxford Police Department during the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thursday. • April Cherie Hernandez, 31: possession of a controlled substance. • Cynthia Rebecca Jackson, 48: receiving a stolen vehicle.
BLOTTER Crimes are listed by location. Anonymous tips may be called in to Crime Stoppers at 256-238-1414. A reward of up to $1,000 may be given.
Anniston
The following property crimes were reported to the Anniston Police Department during the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. Thursday.
Burglaries • Residence, 4900 block of Saks Road: televisions, laptop computer, game console.
• Residence, 1900 block of Cooper Avenue: computer, game console. • Residence, 1400 block of Glen Addie Avenue: household items. • Residence, 400 block of East 22nd Street: lawn mowers, tiller, string trimmer. • Residence, 800 block of West 63rd Street: televisions, jewelry, cell phone, cash. • Residence, 3800 block of Franklin Drive: leaf blower. • Residence, 200 block of East 30th Street: shoes, televisions, game console. • Residence, unspecified block of East 24th Street: copper pipe and
wire.
Glade Road: CD player, CDs, jewelry. Thefts • Service station, 4400 block of • Residence, 400 block Allen Ave- Sprague Avenue: 1980 Oldsmobile nue: tablet computer. Cutlass. • Street, 6200 block of McClellan • Residence, 300 block of South Boulevard: wallet, cell phone, Corning Street: medications, hamcash, personal I.D. mers. • Service station, 800 block of South Quintard Avenue: cash.
Burglaries
• Residence, Gladden Lane West, Alexandria: laptop computer. • Residence, Tom Reid Road, Wellington: television. • Residence, Peace Road, Piedmont: lockbox, firearm. • Residence, Mt. View Road, Ohatchee: jewelry, cosmetics, Calhoun County Auto-related thefts game console, laptop computer, • Residence, 900 block of Lock- The following property crimes tattoo kit, pool sticks. were reported to the Calhoun wood Avenue: tools. Thefts • Residence, 900 block of West 18th County Sheriff’s Office during the seven-day period ending at 7 a.m. • Residence, Paul Street, Anniston: Street: purse, cash. • Residence, 400 block of West Thursday. firearm.
RESTAURANT INSEPCTIONS Here are food service establishments recently inspected by the Calhoun County Health Department, along with scores. A score of 100 indicates the inspector found no deficiencies. Potentially hazardous deficiencies (four- or five-point demerit items) are noted. These must be corrected immediately and inspectors say they are often corrected while the inspection is underway. Restaurants earning below 70 must raise their scores within seven days or face clo-
sure.
during cold holding. • Smoking Moose Saloon, 1214 Noble St., 4-OR 5-POINT DEMERITS Anniston — 94, toxic item not properly • Alexandria High School — 96, presence stored. of rodents. • J’s Wings & Fish, 420 W. 15th St., Anniston NO MAJOR DEMERITS — 93, presence of insects. • Arby’s, 1829 Quintard Ave., Anniston — 99. • Long John Silver’s, 631 Quintard Ave., • Discount Food Mart, 8689 Alabama 202, Anniston — 85, approved food safety course Bynum — 99. certificate required; potentially hazardous • Discount Food Mart, 706 Pelham Road, S., food did not meet temperature requirements Jacksonville — 95.
• Discount Food Mart, 7876 Alabama 77, Ohatchee — 93. • Immanuel Oriental Market, 4410 McClellan Blvd., Anniston — 94. • Jack’s Family Restaurant, 1900 Quintard Ave., Anniston — 98. • Piggly Wiggly, 1615 Quintard Ave., Anniston — 95. • Quick Mart, 1237 Hamric Drive, W., Oxford — 96.
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The Anniston Star
Sunday, September 8, 2013 Page 7E
SUNDAY RECORD CALENDAR: AnnistonStar.com/calendar PROPERTY TRANSFERRED
• Margaret Hale to Curtis Hale and Marjorie P. Hale, Tallasseehatchee Farm re-subdivision, lots 14 and 15, $10. • Housing & Urban Development to John Sears, Reaves subdivision, block 1, lots 9-12, $28,000. • David A. Beegle and Jennifer U. Beegle to Heather N. Sizemore, Lone Oak re-subdivision, lot 11, $10. • Jeffrey Caudill and Amanda Robinson Caudill to Teresa Robinson, Whispering Oaks subdivision, lot 27, $10. • Heirs of Sarah J. Thrower to Allyson B. Senn, Blue Pond subdivision, area 1, block F, lot 7, $10. • Fannie Mae to Kelly A. Estes, Buckhorn subdivision, phase V, lot 43, $93,000. • Cheaha Bank to Don James, a parcel of land in section 10, township 14, range 6, $55,000. • Kellee J. Geier and Cynthia R. Boatfield to Cynthia R. Boatfield, Sunset Heights, Fairway addition, block 4, lots 4 and 5, $10. • Keithia Chastain Lowe to Brian Henderson, E.L. Horn subdivision, block 1, lots 9 and 10; E.L. Horn subdivision, block 3, lots 1 and 2, $10. • Oxford-Coldwater Properties LLC to Patsy Hutcheson, a parcel of land in section 34, township 16, range 8, $10. • Marjorie Marie Strong and Robert Arthur Strong to Jeffery Russell Mullins, a parcel of land in section 17, township 14, range 6, $19,000. • HSBC Mortgage Services Inc. to James T. Watson and Beulah Watson, Vaughn’s subdivision, addition lots 52-77, lots 60-63, $38,000. • Daryl Hamby to Daryl Hamby and Cathy M. Hamby, Shannon
Hills subdivision, 3rd addition, block B, lot 1, $10. • Summerall Properties LLC to Charles L. Sibley and Gail M. Hass, Summerall subdivision, lot 14, $25,000. • Freddie Mac to Larry Jones, Day subdivision, lot 11, $35,000. • Fregory A. Vigue and Boonseub Vigue to Patsy V. Belki, Winwood Estates, block B, lot 13, $125,000. • Denise Chisolm to Douglas A. Simpson and Terri B. Simpson, a parcel of land in section 2, township 13, range 9, $27,417. • Patricia E. Britt to Barry W. Britt, Park Village subdivision, phase 5, lot 52, $10. • Fannie Mae to Valerie Haynes, Glencoe subdivision, lot 25, $10. • Johnny L. Weaver and Cynthia P. Weaver to Ronnie L. Murray, a parcel of land in section 20, township 13, range 8, $173,000. • Susan C. McCain to Jason Lively and Michelle Lively, Ashton Place, 2nd addition, block C, lot 16, $100. • Mark Shoemaker and Marti L. Shoemaker to Lori D. Campbell, Fowler Estates, block B, lot 4, $107,000. • Jessica Anne White to Cora Lee Udell, Albert T. Harris subdivision, block B, lot 16, $100. • Peyton Properties LLC to Christopher L. Faulkner and Neeli A. Faulkner, Hidden Valley subdivision, lot 44, $10. • Equivest Financial LLC to Alina Reyes and Silvio Omar Campas-Naranjo, East Highland Land Co., block C, lots 18 and 19, $20,000. • Matthew B. Taliaferro and Andrea R. Taliaferro to Stone Financing LLC, Legacy Hills, 1st addition, lot 77, $175,000. • Stone Financing LLC to Wesley
Bayles and Makenzie W. Bayles, Legacy Hills, 1st addition, lot 77, $175,000. • Housing & Urban Development to Jasen Wilkins, Dogwood Acres subdivision, lot 14, $131,935. • Balazs Lanyi and Erika Lanyi to Mohammed Gaus Alam, Betta-View Hills subdivision, block B, lot 23, $99,900. • Davlinbri LLC to Reverend Robert J. Baker Bishop of Birmingham in Alabama, Anniston City Land Co., block 6, lots 8-11, $10. • Guyco Properties LLC to Randall R. Spears and Megan C. Spears, Woodland Heights, 2nd section, block 10, lot 20, $10. • Vera S. Barber to Jason Deberry, a parcel of land in section 16, township 15, range 9, $10. • Lynne Elliott Burgess to Ronald Guice Burgess, a parcel of land in section 15, township 14, range 9, $10. • Calhoun Development Co. Inc. to Marie L. Grant, Cotton Creek subdivision, phase 3, lot 19, $10. • Melanie Margaret Spradlin Shaddix to William J. Dunn and Sherry C. Dunn, Pleasant Harbor subdivision, 1st addition, lots 15 and 16, $10. • Timothy Wells and Stephen Wells to Stephen Wells, Herren’s subdivision, block 2, lots 33 and 34, $12,500. • Danica Tidwell to Amy Travis and Joshua Travis, Delwood Estates, block B, lot 1, $10. • Vulcan Lands Inc. to Richard Pritchett, Sherron Pritchett, Richard Bradford Pritchett and Emma Morgan Pritchett, a parcel of land in section 29, township 14, range 7, $10. • Richard Pritchett, Sherron Pritchett, Richard Bradford
Pritchett and Emma Morgan Pritchett to Vulcan Lands Inc., a parcel of land in section 29, township 14, range 7, $10. • Kenneth Ulrich II and Mistie U. Hopson to Diane Ulrich, a parcel of land in section 1, township 17, range 8, $10. • Henry Gomez to Kimberly C. Gomez, Carriage Hills subdivision, 1st addition, block 4, lot 2; Linen Thread Co., lots 103 and 110; Shay Hills subdivision, block 3, lot 11, $10. • Becky Bannister and Jana H. Tyson to Jana H. Tyson, a parcel of land in section 16, township 14, range 8, $81,873. • Wells Fargo Bank to Housing & Urban Development, a parcel of land in section 29, township 13, range 7, $1. • Alabama Housing Finance Authority to Housing & Urban Development, Cave Place, lot 7. • Farmers & Merchants Bank to Ronnie Cofield, Anniston City Land Co., block 109, lots 12 and 13, $10. • Willie Miller and Mary P. Miller to Marcia Y. Wood, a parcel of land in section 26, township 16, range 7, $10. • Calhoun Development Co. Inc. to Gary G. Angel, Buckhorn subdivision, phase IV, 1st addition, lot 168, $10. • Calhoun Development Co. Inc. to Gary G. Angel, Buckhorn subdivision, phase III, block C, lot 10, $10. • Phillip R. McGlaughn and Jennifer C. McGlaughn to Bobby Welch, a parcel of land in section 30, township 14, range 8, $1. • Mailande H. Sprayberry to Janice Cunningham and Richard Sprayberry, Park Village subdivision, lot 105.
• James R. Harrison and Darlene Harrison to James W. Hall and Sarah D. Hall, a parcel of land in section 20, township 16, range 7, $10. • Thomas Edward Snyder to Drennen Retherford and Dana Retherford, Mountainview subdivision, block C, lot 22, $15,260. • John H. Starr III, Susan M. Starr and John H. Akers to Louis G. Kernion, Christopher Way, 4th addition, block 3, lots 10 and 11, $10. • Steven W. Caraway and Lisa A. Caraway to David C. Thompson and Tiffany J. Thompson, Grandview subdivision, 9th addition, lot 92, $285,000. • Harry R. Barnwell-Estate to Jason Haynes, a parcel of land in section 7, township 14, range 8, $94,000. • Emmett C. Cofield Jr. and Lisa K. Cofield to Emmett C. Cofield Jr. and Lisa K. Cofield, McIntosh Manors, 1st addition, blocks 11 and 12, $10. • J. Lamar Diggs to Freestyle Graphix LLC, Deason-Sarvella subdivision, lots 37-40, $10. • Jay Stephens to Jeremy Smith and Amber Smith, Mary T. Garrett’s subdivision, lots 1 and 3, $10. • Steven D. Gardner and Patrica M. Gardner to Mark L. Mangum and Tammie A. Mangum, a parcel of land in section 10, township 14, range 7, $1,000. • Julia Feazell Areno-Power of Attorney on behalf of Ruby Feazell and Doy D. Feazell to Robert David Young and Deborah Young, Irene Fleming subdivision, block 1, lot 7, $40,000.
Self-driving cars could be on U.S. roads by 2020 BY DEE-ANN DURBIN Associated Press
Cars that drive themselves could be on U.S. roads by the end of this decade. But don’t take your foot off the pedal just yet. Automakers, universities and others are at various stages in the development of autonomous cars. Google is testing some in California. General Motors recently announced that its “Super Cruise” system, which uses radar and cameras to steer and stop a car, could be on Cadillacs by the end of this decade. And Nissan has boldly promised that it will have an autonomous driving system by 2020. “This is not a Star Wars technology. This is a technology that’s becoming more and more reliable,” Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn said this year at the Detroit auto show. But there are still a host of issues to work through before there’s a driverless car in every driveway. State laws requiring a licensed driver at the wheel will have to change. Insurers will have to determine who’s at fault if a self-driving car crashes. Highways will need to accommodate cars with and without drivers. And auto companies will need to ensure that cars’ on-board computers can’t be hacked. In a recent report, consulting company Navigant Research estimated it will be at least 2035 before a majority of vehicles sold worldwide will be able to drive themselves. Navigant predicts that technology will come in bits and pieces — first self-parking cars, then systems to help drivers navigate traffic jams, then cars that can cruise by themselves on a highway. “The role of the driver of a vehicle will evolve to be more like that of a pilot in an aircraft,” the company said in its report. Autonomous cars are moving from pipe dream to reality thanks to rapid advances in technology. Lane-departure warn-
The SARTRE Project/Associated Press
A 2012 road train in Barcelona, Spain, tests autonomous driving technology developed in a ground-breaking SARTRE European research project. ing systems, for example, first appeared a decade ago. They typically used one camera, mounted on the windshield, to warn drivers if they swerved out of a lane. Newer systems are far more complex. Now, multiple cameras and radars can detect and avoid pedestrians by telling the car to apply brakes. Some cameras can even read street signs. And some systems not only warn the driver with a beep or a buzz but also gently nudge the steering wheel to make sure the car stays in the middle of its lane. The story is similar with adaptive cruise control. In the mid-1990s, it could maintain a safe distance from a car directly in front of it at highway speeds. Now, more advanced systems can monitor cars in
other lanes, work in slower, stop-and-go traffic and even apply the brakes. Satellite-based navigation systems have also become far more accurate in the last decade, which is key to developing self-driving cars. Some systems can already detect traffic jams and suggest alternate routes. Navigant predicts future systems will be able to give turn-by-turn directions to the car instead of the driver. Technology isn’t perfect. Amnon Shashua, the co-founder of Mobileye, a Dutch company that writes software for automotive cameras, says there are still some situations in which humans outperform computers. At a four-way stop, for example, a driver can crane his neck, scan for traffic
in any direction and quickly determine the speed of any oncoming vehicles. So far, cars can’t mimic that, Shashua said. But even as the research and development continues, some autonomous cars are already being tested. Last year, British auto engineering firm Ricardo successfully led an autonomous vehicle demonstration near Barcelona, Spain. One vehicle led four others — three Volvo cars and a truck — that drove themselves for more than 120 miles. The cars stayed 20 feet from each other and traveled at 53 miles per hour. Ricardo’s U.S. President Tom Apostolos says the company believes such platoons will be among the first applications of self-driving technology. A farmer could drive a lead vehicle and run four self-driving combines behind, for example. Highway platooning could follow, but that is fraught with questions. Roy Goudy, a senior principal engineer at Nissan’s North American technical center, said autonomous cars can react much more quickly to potential hazards than cars being driven by people, so it would be difficult to have both on the road at the same time. “What are the rules in that environment, and what do we do to enforce those rules?” Goudy said. Good question. So far, the rules have yet to be established. Only three states — Nevada, Florida and California — and the District of Columbia have authorized testing of automated cars on their roads. The federal government hasn’t said when it might issue any regulations. Despite all the uncertainties surrounding autonomous cars, many agree on their benefits. David Strickland, head of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, says self-driving cars could potentially save thousands of lives, since human error is currently a factor in as many as 90 percent of traffic deaths.
Hackers find weaknesses in car computer systems BY TOM KRISHER Associated Press
As cars become more like PCs on wheels, what’s to stop a hacker from taking over yours? In recent demonstrations, hackers have shown they can slam a car’s brakes at freeway speeds, jerk the steering wheel and even shut down the engine — all from their laptop computers. The hackers are publicizing their work to reveal vulnerabilities present in a growing number of car computers. All cars and trucks contain anywhere from 20 to 70 computers. They control everything from the brakes to acceleration to the windows, and are connected to an internal network. A few hackers have recently managed to find their way into these intricate networks. In one case, a pair of hackers manipulated two cars by plugging a laptop into a port beneath the dashboard where mechanics connect their computers to search for problems. Scarier yet, another group took control of a car’s com-
puters through cellular telephone and Bluetooth connections, the compact disc player and even the tire pressure monitoring system. It took the “hackers,” well-intentioned computer security experts, months to break into the computers. And there have been no real-world cases of a hacker remotely taking over a car. But experts say high-tech hijackings will get easier as automakers give them full Internet access and add computer-controlled safety devices that take over driving duties, such as braking or steering, in emergencies. “The more technology they add to the vehicle, the more opportunities there are for that to be abused for nefarious purposes,” says Rich Mogull, CEO of Phoenix-based Securosis, a security research firm. “Anything with a computer chip in it is vulnerable, history keeps showing us.” In the last 25 years, automakers have gradually computerized functions like steering, braking, accelerating and shifting. These networks of little computers are
fertile ground for hackers. Charlie Miller, a security engineer for Twitter, and Chris Valasek, director of intelligence at a Pittsburgh computer security consulting firm, maneuvered their way into the computer systems of a 2010 Toyota Prius and 2010 Ford Escape through a port used by mechanics. “We could control steering, braking, acceleration to a certain extent, seat belts, lights, horn, speedometer, gas gauge,” said Valasek. Valasek and Miller released a report, including instructions on how to break into the cars’ networks, at a hacker convention in August. They said they did so to draw attention to the problems and get automakers to fix them. Two years ago, researchers at the University of Washington and University of California San Diego hacked into a 2009 midsize car through its cellular, Bluetooth and other wireless connections — even the CD player. Stefan Savage, a UCSD computer science professor, said
Steven Senne/Associated Press
Diagnostic technician Kurt Juergens uses a laptop to repair the brake system on a 2010 Toyota Prius in a Norwood, Mass., repair shop. Hackers recently broke into computer systems of a 2010 Prius and Ford Escape through a port used by mechanics. he and other researchers could control nearly everything but the car’s steering. “We could have turned the brakes off. We could have killed the engine. We could have engaged the brakes,” he said. Savage doesn’t think common criminals will be able to electroni-
cally seize control of cars anytime soon. Currently it would take too much time, expertise, money and hard work to hack into the multitude of computer systems. “You’re talking about a rarefied group who has the resources and wherewithal,” he said.