NYPD To Waze/Google: Stop Revealing Location Of Police

[coralreefer]

This story hit the national news evening broadcasts tonight. It sounds like Google is engaged in defending the safety features of the app, but probably worth monitoring the situation.

One of several articles I found in just a few seconds of searching:

NYPD To Google: Stop Revealing Location Of DWI Checkpoints

The NYPD has sent a cease and desist letter to Google, demanding that it remove alerts about DWI checkpoints on the Waze driving app.

www.google.com

 

[JohnnyE]

This news is just another insult.

Just recently, Waze became practically unusable with its last update. It is now constantly auto zooming in and out while I drive. Not only is this a distraction, it denies me info on road conditions thousands of yards ahead of me...early enough for me to detour. Since I cannot safely tap the screen every ten seconds to keep zooming out, I just shut it off...and no longer drop or grade the accuracy of others pins. They've lost me.

 

[RussS]

This news is just another insult.

Just recently, Waze became practically unusable with its last update. It is now constantly auto zooming in and out while I drive. Not only is this a distraction, it denies me info on road conditions thousands of yards ahead of me...early enough for me to detour. Since I cannot safely tap the screen every ten seconds to keep zooming out, I just shut it off...and no longer drop or grade the accuracy of others pins. They've lost me.

The auto-zooming is annoying. I'm running the lastest version and haven't lost feedback on other's reports. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come.

 

[OBeerWANKenobi]

Sounds like we'll just have to make our own app..... Cough cough RDFGS 2.0...... And then market it to the masses as the unwussyfied alternative to VVAZE.

 

[dchemist]

Sounds like we'll just have to make our own app..... Cough cough RDFGS 2.0...... And then market it to the masses as the unwussyfied alternative to VVAZE.

Preach!

 

[OBeerWANKenobi]

BTW, Google would totally win the court case. There was something similar with flashing headlights. I saw this posted elsewhere.

Flashing Headlights to Warn Drivers Is Free Speech: Dist. Court

Drivers have a First Amendment right to flash their headlights to warn others about an upcoming speed trap, U.S. District Judge Henry Autrey has ruled. Autrey made waves in Missouri last week after he granted a preliminary injunction that bars...

blogs.findlaw.com

 

[SixPackABS]

I hate the adds that pop up when you stop or slow down,,,, almost got the wrong turn.

 

[BlueV1]

I'm not having any issues. ?

 

[Twi7ch]

Pretty sure other police departments have made similar complaints about Waze before. I hope Google tells them to get bent. Recently had the pleasure of using Waze in California... so nice seeing 100k+ users online versus 500 in Vancouver.

 

[HeartDoctor]

Police might get more sympathy if we didn't know that their enforcement is nothing to do with public safety and is entirely an extortion scam to enrich the ruling elite.

 

[thebravo]

police have been bitching about Waze for years, it falls under free speech. they argue that it puts them at risk, but frankly I like knowing that there is a cop nearby if I needed help and there was a pin just up the road I could go there and get help... yes it limits their revenue... tough. there are still tons of clueless idiots that don't use it, prey on them.

 

[Solidjake]

They can go pound dirt

 

[DespoticDanks]

Cops Insist Waze Users Stop Snitching on DWI Checkpoints

gizmodo.com

 

[thebravo]

ummm doesn't NY law require them to publicly post the locations of checkpoints ahead of time? and posting about on waze is free speech... so good luck getting that overturned.

 

[Solidjake]

Repost

NYPD To Waze/Google: Stop Revealing Location Of Police

This story hit the national news evening broadcasts tonight. It sounds like Google is engaged in defending the safety features of the app, but probably worth monitoring the situation. One of several articles I found in just a few seconds of searching...

www.rdforum.org

 

[ShadowTrooper]

Wasn't this already ruled by the Supreme Court that it's unwarranted detention if they have not already made the time and location of the checkpoint public beforehand so what if someone who read it on the blotter and put it on Waze first? Also this is just free speech nonetheless as OBeer has said.

 

[xydrine]

Sounds like we'll just have to make our own app..... Cough cough RDFGS 2.0...... And then market it to the masses as the unwussyfied alternative to VVAZE.

Well this was the plan already! If they think Waze and such are bad, just wait until they see the amount of information we will have on our app about their operations. And they won't be able to remove them with a few downvotes like in Waze.

But cease and desist? Talk about infringement of first amendment rights.

Exactly what Shadow just said, for that matter!

 

[Jhaggy]

Let me tell you the real reason why they did this...

With the new tax system implemented from the president, NY state stands to lose 200 billion in revenue. NYC makes a living out of speeding and parking tickets. When I mean a living, I mean like if NYC sang a song about speeding and parking tickets, it would go platinum.

With waze warning them of police on the highways and speed and red light cameras throughout the city, their revenue has been cut down even more. Plus, no matter what time of night, NY has cars on the road and stationary cops are always marked. Plus, they have to be stationary cause in the city, finding a U-turn median is very very rare. You have a better chance getting struck by lightning. So they are always parked up on side of the freeway and can only target one side traffic.

So with the amount of loss in revenue they have experienced, all they can do is write a letter to Google and pray.

 

[johnboy00]

Nevermind that the article posted was specifically about DWI checkpoints.

"The masses" will never use another app that doesn't also do nav and traffic and isn't free. How do you pay for marketing, or legal defense, with a free app? Unless you're Google, I mean.

 

[nomore55]

Amy Cohen launched the advocacy group "Families for Safe Streets" after her 12-year-old son, Sammy, was killed by a speeding driver in Brooklyn. She says police checkpoints and speed cameras have helped to reduce traffic fatalities over the years and that Google is in affect allowing some unsafe drivers to avoid detection.

"It is unconscionable what Google has done. they will have blood on their hands if someone is killed. if they're trying to share information that is designed to save lives," Cohen said.

Some critics of sobriety checkpoints argue they violate Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure. But the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled them constitutional.

Google, defiant in its response to the letter, said safety is its top priority and adds, "We believe that informing drivers about upcoming speed traps allows them to be more careful and make safer decisions when they're on the road."