US Cops pissed off @ iPhones alerting of speed traps, red light cameras

[stutterr]

D.C. police chief Cathy Lanier, frustrated that iPhone technology is one step ahead of the red-light and speed cameras in her jurisdiction, has announced that those who use their hand-held electronic devices are "cowardly" and "...are going to get caught" in one way or another.

The subscription-based software that has Lanier shaking her fists and blurting out names is called PhantomAlert. In a nutshell, its GPS-enhanced database of law enforcement "points of interest" mimics alarms similar to those common to radar detectors (remember, radar detectors are already illegal in Virginia and D.C.). Drivers are alerted to approaching speed traps and photo enforcing locations on in their iPhone, or portable GPS units, enabling them time to slow down.

Not surprising when you consider that the greater D.C. area is home to nearly 10 percent of all traffic cameras in the U.S., according to experts. Chief Lanier is frustrated that the innovative technology is "designed to circumvent law enforcement -- law enforcement that is designed specifically to save lives." What Lanier seems to be forgetting is that attentive drivers using PhantomAlert will be slowing down at all 290 enforcement zones... saving countless lives in the process.

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/18/r...ne-to-find-sp/

[Berzerker]

If the phone alerts them... and they slow down.... wouldn't the police be happy that the radar trap and traffic camera's are doing their jobs? No because they are taking money out of the pockets and THAT is the real reason those camera's are there.

Cowardly..... what an interesting word. I fail to see how that word can by applied in this situation lol.

Berz out.

[unnamed1]

anyone have this? any review on it?
looking to get this, it's $100 for a lifetime usage. it's actually not avaliable on the iphone, only GPS navi's

[stutterr]

I guess you can't read...and they clearly show a pic on an iPhone of it working.
Cheetah, makes a rearview mirror for your car that will alert you to this. It clips over your existing rearview. Pretty sweet unit.

http://www.speedcheetah.com/scshop/section.php?xSec=24

It looks like there is a ton of stuff out for your iPhone as well. Trapster is another one.

http://www.geeksugar.com/2370690

Trapster also works on black berry. This software can also let you know where checkpoints have been previously located as well.

[go.mouse]

Cheetah Mirror is a great product!

Or you can use a GPS capable radar detector like the Escort 9500ix, which includes a camera database.

http://www.kmph.ca/products/radar-de...rt-9500ix.html

Originally Posted by stutterr

I guess you can't read...and they clearly show a pic on an iPhone of it working.
Cheetah, makes a rearview mirror for your car that will alert you to this. It clips over your existing rearview. Pretty sweet unit.

http://www.speedcheetah.com/scshop/section.php?xSec=24

It looks like there is a ton of stuff out for your iPhone as well. Trapster is another one.

http://www.geeksugar.com/2370690

Trapster also works on black berry. This software can also let you know where checkpoints have been previously located as well.

[unnamed1]

i checked my iphone for an app, there isn't any for phantomalert
i google phantomalert iphone, nothing
phantomalert website says nothing about having an iphone app, and on its website it says

"We are currently developing iPhone and handset versions of PhantomALERT slated for Q3 release, look for press announcements on timing and availability."

the picture in the link isn't even a picture of the phantom alert working, it's a picture of the website sigalert.com which has nothing to do with phantom alert

[stutterr]

there are tons of programs for the iphone and blackberrys

since most smartphones have GPS, they will have programs to do this

[unnamed1]

i guess u cant read
http://www.phantomalert.com/FAQs/FAQ-s.html
3rd question

ill give u $100 through paypal if u can find me a phantomalert iphone app through the link u gave me.

good job editing your post dipshit

[smoothie.]

ive got the free iphone app one, works so far.... not enough people use it to get live cops but just usual traps.

the red light ones are bang on though

[buddy]

she is upset because she is using the speed traps and red light cameras as means to generate income than tools to promote public safety ...

[sebberry]

From a public safety perspective, I'm not sure why they'd be upset at people knowing where red-light cameras are. Might stop people from running reds?

From a revenue generation perspective, I can fully understand why they'd be upset with people stopping for the red lights.

[clowe]

Is this thing any use in Vancouver? Like is there any coverage? I saw it advertised at London Drugs and thought there might not even be coverage here.

I guess the cops are pissed cause the speeders will still speed but will slow down enough when they're alerted of traps making them unable to catch them in the act.

[KuSouL]

i'm in taiwan right now and uh
like every single taxi ~ which is about 60% of the cars on the road have that thing
but then again ... seems like there are no rules to driving in taiwan

[stutterr]

Originally Posted by clowe

Is this thing any use in Vancouver? Like is there any coverage? I saw it advertised at London Drugs and thought there might not even be coverage here.

I guess the cops are pissed cause the speeders will still speed but will slow down enough when they're alerted of traps making them unable to catch them in the act.

I am guessing if London Drugs is advertising it, there is Vancouver coverage or coverage in the city that the store has it in. That just makes sence right?? LOL

I know 100% that the Cheetah mirror has coverage and its a bit more stealthy than the software.

I am 99% sure that phantoAlert has coverage in vancouver and all of canada. They seem to rely on confirmed input from other drivers. Once they get a few complaints they issue the warning. In a video I saw on youtube, the device told buddy that "3 confirmed" sightings were at this area etc etc.

[nipples]

Originally Posted by KuSouL

i'm in taiwan right now and uh
like every single taxi ~ which is about 60% of the cars on the road have that thing
but then again ... seems like there are no rules to driving in taiwan

exactly. all the gps' here tell you where they are with like a big ass alarm bell. scared the crap outta me the first time, but the net result iss till people slowing down. so what's the problem?

[clowe]

Originally Posted by stutterr

I am guessing if London Drugs is advertising it, there is Vancouver coverage or coverage in the city that the store has it in. That just makes sence right?? LOL

I know 100% that the Cheetah mirror has coverage and its a bit more stealthy than the software.

I am 99% sure that phantoAlert has coverage in vancouver and all of canada. They seem to rely on confirmed input from other drivers. Once they get a few complaints they issue the warning. In a video I saw on youtube, the device told buddy that "3 confirmed" sightings were at this area etc etc.

I guess...its just that I've seen Futureshop/Best Buy advertise "live traffic" in a bubble for the Garmin GPS devices that has live traffic and like the only place in Canada that even has any coverage for traffic is Toronto and even that is really limited so I thought it might be the same with Phantomalert

[sebberry]

Originally Posted by nipples

so what's the problem?

...
...

Originally Posted by nipples

the net result iss till people slowing down.

No money is made from traffic fines when people stop or slow down.

[yellowpower]

But the point is, to save lives, not generate money idiot

[sebberry]

Originally Posted by yellowpower

But the point is, to save lives, not generate money idiot

The police/government is pissed off because people are using iPhones to stop for red lights?

[stutterr]

its because people are finding creative ways to "beat the system"

go figure...maybe its something that people hated to much, yet we have found a way around it that is ticking them off. Who knows....regardless its pretty cool stuff

[underscore]

they dont seem to know that there's add-ons for GPS' for this. I think the main difference is they do traffic as well, not just cameras. You can also pick up on the frequency for the red light cameras if you have the tools. you could theoretically try to jam the signal as well. Or you could just not run any red lights and drive near the speed limit. *shrug*

[sebberry]

Originally Posted by stutterr

its because people are finding creative ways to "beat the system"

By using devices like that to know when a red light camera is approaching, they're not "beating the system", they're stopping which is the intent of the camera: increase safety at intersections. The only reason for the government to be upset at this is if they are counting on x number of red light runners for revenue generation.

[Drift_Monkey]

Originally Posted by sebberry

By using devices like that to know when a red light camera is approaching, they're not "beating the system", they're stopping which is the intent of the camera: increase safety at intersections. The only reason for the government to be upset at this is if they are counting on x number of red light runners for revenue generation.

I agree with the above.

Safety first, then revenue.

So what if we cheat to save lives and accidents. Its better than seeing some one dead than to make revenue for one redlight ticket.

something is wrong here when revenue is greater than people's lives.

An accident would create more cost as well. Fire fighters, paramedics and police have to arrive at the scene, then block the intersection creating a traffic jam. Now thats a waste of time and money to clean up an accident.


I think cheating is bad when it creates hazzards, but I don't think there can be any hazzard unless the iphone can make your car invisible so that you can run a redlight with out getting a picture taken. then cheating the system here is dangerous as people will run reds and may create some serious damage.

[underscore]

^ how does it alert you tho? do you have to look at the screen at all?

[Care]

.