Speed trap info now available on your mobile phone
Thread Starter
CL Community Team
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 30,281
Likes: 362
From: Canada
Speed trap info now available on your mobile phone
New Mobile Service Fights Speed Traps
By ANICK JESDANUN
AP Internet Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- In a modern equivalent of flashing your headlights to warn other motorists of police speed traps, you can now warn fellow drivers with a cell phone or personal digital assistant about speed traps, red-light cameras and other threats to ticket-free driving.
And as you approach a known threat, you'll get an audio alert on your mobile device.
The developer of Trapster, Pete Tenereillo, said the system, which requires punching in a few keys such as "pound-1" to submit information to Trapster's database, should comply with laws banning talking on cell phones.
Tenereillo insisted he isn't encouraging motorists to break the law or drive dangerously, saying drivers who speed are bound to do so anyway.
And he said police officials he's talked to haven't complained about the service because it inevitably encourages drivers to slow down. (The International Association of Chiefs of Police did not respond to requests for comment.)
The free service can automatically detect location using mobile devices' GPS capabilities or tap their Wi-Fi and get location from a database run by Skyhook Wireless. (Skyhook sends trucks up and down streets to scan for home wireless routers or commercial hotspots and record the unique identifying code and location of each.)
Information about red-light cameras and where police tend to operate speed traps is kept in Trapster's database indefinitely. Information about active speed traps is kept for an hour, with the idea that officers may move on.
Users can choose the types of cameras or traps for which they want alerts.
To discourage pranksters and law-enforcement officials from flooding the system with bogus locations, users can rate others on the accuracy of their contributions, and those getting better ratings will carry more weight.
Trapster can be used with about 10 different wireless platforms, including Nokia Corp.'s smart phones, devices using Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Mobile and BlackBerry units from Research In Motion Ltd.
© 2008 The Associated Press
By ANICK JESDANUN
AP Internet Writer
NEW YORK (AP) -- In a modern equivalent of flashing your headlights to warn other motorists of police speed traps, you can now warn fellow drivers with a cell phone or personal digital assistant about speed traps, red-light cameras and other threats to ticket-free driving.
And as you approach a known threat, you'll get an audio alert on your mobile device.
The developer of Trapster, Pete Tenereillo, said the system, which requires punching in a few keys such as "pound-1" to submit information to Trapster's database, should comply with laws banning talking on cell phones.
Tenereillo insisted he isn't encouraging motorists to break the law or drive dangerously, saying drivers who speed are bound to do so anyway.
And he said police officials he's talked to haven't complained about the service because it inevitably encourages drivers to slow down. (The International Association of Chiefs of Police did not respond to requests for comment.)
The free service can automatically detect location using mobile devices' GPS capabilities or tap their Wi-Fi and get location from a database run by Skyhook Wireless. (Skyhook sends trucks up and down streets to scan for home wireless routers or commercial hotspots and record the unique identifying code and location of each.)
Information about red-light cameras and where police tend to operate speed traps is kept in Trapster's database indefinitely. Information about active speed traps is kept for an hour, with the idea that officers may move on.
Users can choose the types of cameras or traps for which they want alerts.
To discourage pranksters and law-enforcement officials from flooding the system with bogus locations, users can rate others on the accuracy of their contributions, and those getting better ratings will carry more weight.
Trapster can be used with about 10 different wireless platforms, including Nokia Corp.'s smart phones, devices using Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Mobile and BlackBerry units from Research In Motion Ltd.
© 2008 The Associated Press
Lexus Champion
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 0
From: ca
I just downloaed it to my Sprint Blackberry 8830 works as advertised, started going nuts while I was driving and coming up to a red light camera.
awesome idea.
I don't think this will work with many other companies devices, I know Verizon purposely disables the GPS features in the new Blackberries so you have to buy their crappy cell tower GPS monthy fees.
awesome idea.
I don't think this will work with many other companies devices, I know Verizon purposely disables the GPS features in the new Blackberries so you have to buy their crappy cell tower GPS monthy fees.
Trending Topics
ClubLexus Stories
Celebrating Lexus & Toyota from Around the Globe
Top 10 Most Confusing Things Lexus Has Ever Done!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Lexus ES Review: Lexus Re-Embraces Founding Principles
Michael S. Palmer
10 Lexus Bargains That are Cheaper Than a New Toyota RAV4
Joe Kucinski
8 Weirdest Things Lexus Has Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
10 Lexus Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
8 Tips for Improving Your Hybrid or Plug-in Hybrid's Efficiency!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Best Lexus Models No One Remembers
Joe Kucinski
TRD Off-Road Premium: Best 2026 4Runner, Except This One Thing
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Lexus & Toyotas to Drive Before You Die!
Joe Kucinski
Lexus Champion
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,080
Likes: 0
From: Upland CA (Inland Empire)
ill wait until more people start using it, and less flooding begins. that was my only problem with this idea, is that people will call false traps, or cops will try to trick people. so ill wait until people get more positive feedback so i know whos trap to believe.
Did you check the link? 
It says:
So maybe it will work if you know your phone has Java/J2ME or you feel lucky. 
It says:
Nokia Smartphones
Windows Mobile 5 and 6
BlackBerry
I know I have a phone that supports Java/J2ME, or I'm feeling lucky
http://www.trapster.com/downloadurls.php
Windows Mobile 5 and 6
BlackBerry
I know I have a phone that supports Java/J2ME, or I'm feeling lucky
http://www.trapster.com/downloadurls.php
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
