Trapster: alerts to police speed traps, etc

[labman]

I heard about this app on the podcast Today In Iphone and because of this DC Police Chief who now has now had allot of press so the App Free and worth checking out from my test so far works great.

DC Police Chief Says It's 'Cowardly' To Monitor Speed Traps With Your iPhone
from the real-men-prefer-ignorance dept

Jeff Nolan points us to the news that Washington DC's police chief is denouncing users of an iPhone app to monitor speed traps/speed cameras/red light cameras as being "cowardly." Apparently, real men prefer ignorance about where the police are hiding to give them tickets for driving a couple miles per hour over the speed limit. The app actually sounds pretty useful, alerting users if they're near one of the cameras or a known speed trap. The creator of the software makes the most salient point:


Trapster(R), a FREE app that alerts you as you approach police speed traps, red light cameras, and speed cameras.

* WIRED Magazine #1 of apps that make the most of location

* A Time Magazine top 10 iPhone App for Dads
(also available for other phones, see trapster.com)

"Trapster maps out where speed traps are in real time, a boon to my occasionally spirited driving."
- Roy Furchgott, The New York Times

"Trapster is a new, geopositioning-based anti-ticket technology all driving enthusiasts will want to know about."
- Arthur St. Antoine, Motor Trend

Join 1 million mobile users world-wide, with over 600,000 of those using the iPhone!

It's a high tech way to do the same thing people have been doing for years with CB radios and flashing headlights at other drivers to warn them of a speed trap ahead. Social networking meets radar detectors. It works using the GPS and WiFi location capabilities of your iPhone.

Now also with local search (e.g. "pizza"), directions, traffic, and a trip recorder feature with geotagged photo support.

Features:

- World's most complete and up to date speed trap and camera database with 400,000 traps reported.

- Real time alerts for police radar/laser speed traps, mobile speed cameras, and checkpoints. These traps automatically expire because they are not permanent.

- Alerts for red light cameras, fixed speed cameras, and known speed trap locations.

- Virtual Radar(TM) dynamic alert area narrows and elongates based on your speed and direction of travel.

- As of iPhone 3.0, Trapster uses the native iPhone MapKit with Google maps for the best possible mapping experience on the iPhone.

- As you approach a reported trap a spoken voice alert will play, and on-screen icons will animate, according to the type of trap (for example "Live Police!").

- Report traps that you see by simply tapping the screen.

- Rate traps submitted by other users (agree/disagree).

- The system learns the credibility of users over time based on how many other users agree with the traps they report.

- "Push" notification starts the app via the Trapster real time live police report text messaging system.

* My Trips feature

- This feature broadens the scope of the app beyond speed traps, to a useful and fun travel tool.

- Record your trips, see them in the app, and on the Web.

- Share your trips with your friends and family. They can watch your progress in real time from any computer, or iPhone.

- Geo-tag your trip with photos and notes about interesting things you see.

- Privacy: Keep your trip totally private, share it with the world, or share it only with certain people you choose.

* Facebook and Twitter integration

- Now Trapster can post the traps you report, and the trips you record, directly to your Facebook wall or Twitter account. Uses Facebook Connect and Twitter OAuth so that you never need to give your private Facebook or Twitter account credentials to Trapster.

It's FREE, it's fun, and it might save you a lot time, embarrassment, and money spent on traffic violation fees and increased insurance premiums. Download it now and give it a try!

Click Options > Help for complete instructions.

The Trapster app and service is free. We do not distribute, share, sell, rent, etc. your private information such as your email address or mobile number to anyone, period, nor have we ever. Read the privacy policy on our Web site for more details.

Press links at http://trapster.com/inthenews.php

Note: There was an Examiner article about a DC police chief referring to an iPhone app called PhantomAlert. Phantom Alert doesn't even have an iPhone app at all. The DC police chief was referring to this app, Trapster.
What's new

* Fixes crash bug
* Added Apple Push Notification
* Improved UI with slide-outs for voting

 

[titaniummd]

It works well. It even does Red Light Cameras which are all over DC and MD.

 

[slapguts]

One of the first apps I ever got. Love it.

 

[gowanis]

got it yesterday and then last night around 11pm i got my first push alert (while home) which was accompanied by a loud police siren. scared the crap out me !

 

[JonHimself]

[]

 

[TavisB]

my favorite app

 

[3GEE]

Will this work with Canadian cities?

Yup, I'm in Ottawa, works great. Good app!

 

[JonHimself]

[]

 

[Jayden0606]

I d/led the app, but never used it. I have a very expensive radar detector that hasn't let me down.

Of course this app is for more than speed traps, but for red light cameras and seat belt waypoints. I will make an attempt to use the app more, but after I get my car charger back.

 

[phungy]

I d/led the app, but never used it. I have a very expensive radar detector that hasn't let me down.

Valentine 1?

 

[labman]

Well

Aren't you guys just a bunch of Cowards! add this too a Navigation App now we are really rocking! going to play with mine today!

 

[braddick]

What about instant on radar? The cop knows your speed before you are notified he is there and you slow down.

I know here in the San Diego area instant on radar is the norm.

Now, for red light cameras? That shows promise. . .

Tickets for red light runs $341.00. But, how many of us here really run red lights?
Speeding? Sure, who doesn't. But, blazing through red lights? No thanks.

 

[phungy]

There are too many horrible drivers in south Florida that run red lights and even in central Florida where the elderly run red lights that have been red for a good 3-4 seconds.

 

[braddick]

There are too many horrible drivers in south Florida that run red lights and even in central Florida where the elderly run red lights that have been red for a good 3-4 seconds.

I agree. But how is this app going to stop that?

 

[braddick]

. . .Now if a developer could build an app that would warm you when someone else is about to run a red light. . .

That would be worth downloading!

 

[phungy]

I agree. But how is this app going to stop that?

It isn't. I just wanted to rant.

 

[Jayden0606]

Valentine 1?

Escort - Passport 8500X50

Worked in Bestbuy and had too many people complain about Valentines... and them actually paying their tickets.

I will probably upgrade to the 9500IX with GPS.

 

[phungy]

Escort - Passport 8500X50

Worked in Bestbuy and had too many people complain about Valentines... and them actually paying their tickets.

I will probably upgrade to the 9500IX with GPS.

Interesting. I guess those are the blatant speeders. I've had mine (V1) for 3 years and its saved me numerous times, zero tickets *knocks on wood*

How do you like the 8500X50? I'm moving to the city and won't have a car for the next 4-5 years so I'm going to sell the V1, sadly.

 

[Ronnoco]

Trapster also can alert you to "Live Police" long before you arrive at the trap area...I for one like the app very much...

 

[ImNoSuperMan]

So the basic aim of the app is to allow u to speed up without the fear of getting caught. This is THE app which should have been rejected by apple IMHO. It`s going to harm the users a hell lot more than any pr0n or other controversial app.

Tickets for red light runs $341.00.

. 341$. A 2-4$ bribe to the local traffic cop(if caught) is enough in my country

. . .Now if a developer could build an app that would warm you when someone else is about to run a red light. . .

That would be worth downloading!

.

 

[labman]

So the basic aim of the app is to allow u to speed up without the fear of getting caught. This is THE app which should have been rejected by apple IMHO. It`s going to harm the users a hell lot more than any pr0n or other controversial app.



. 341$. A 2-4$ bribe to the local traffic cop(if caught) is enough in my country



.

Well a couple of things I have a freeway near me posted speed 55 MPH 88 KPH but minim speed allowed by traffic is 70 MPH or 112 KPH any slower is suicide or risk of causing a accident. posted speed on all other freeways in my area 70 mph why risk a expensive ticket and if I could bribe a cop with a $2-$4 bribe wow that's crazy! even you tried a $200 bribe you are taking a huge risk. and I don't think this app wants people running red lights. it also reports knowing hiding spots of the police if anything it slows you down a little because it tell you that you are coming up on a known hiding spot or coming up on a camera! I think this app is pretty sweet. I haven't had a ticket in over 4 years, but that's not to say I don't speed from time to time! oh you be a idiot to think you could speed with out concern unless I lived in your country any way!

 

[danpass]

There are too many horrible drivers in south Florida that run red lights and even in central Florida where the elderly run red lights that have been red for a good 3-4 seconds.

Now there's an app for that!

Now if we can only get people to move out of the left lane and actually accelerate TO the speed limit.


Lazy, slacker, asleep-at-wheel, absent minded, self absorbed drivers.


I miss New York driving.

 

[danpass]

So the basic aim of the app is to allow u to speed up without the fear of getting caught. This is THE app which should have been rejected by apple IMHO. It`s going to harm the users a hell lot more than any pr0n or other controversial app.

There's an app, I mean, a thread for that HERE

 

[bmms8]

i downloaded this app and it seems pretty useful. i have a V1 in my car and that thing has saved me multiple times! in the description for this app, it states that this can send you a pushed message when the app is closed, but my question is, how is it supposed to know where i am? especially if i am 100 miles away from when the last time the app was opened..

 

[MadDog31]

i downloaded this app and it seems pretty useful. i have a V1 in my car and that thing has saved me multiple times! in the description for this app, it states that this can send you a pushed message when the app is closed, but my question is, how is it supposed to know where i am? especially if i am 100 miles away from when the last time the app was opened..

Apparently it alerts you wherever you were last when you closed the app. It's somewhat of a workaround, but I could imagine that possibly working, such as if you check in while at work or home and then have it remind you of any w/in a certain distance.