Trapster iPhone app helps motorists dodge speed traps

[csv8]

Trapster iPhone app helps motorists dodge speed traps
Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld)


Kay Dibben

February 14, 2010 12:00am

A NETWORK of Queensland motorists is using mobile phones to get instant speed trap alerts and report hidden speed cops and cameras.

The motorists are using Trapster, an online service with apps for iPhone and BlackBerry, that now has 3.5 million members reporting speed traps worldwide.


The system allows users to report live police speed traps, common hiding places for traffic police with speed guns and red light, fixed and mobile speed cameras.

There are ratings depending on the verification of the reported speed trap information and users of the system get warnings near speed traps.

Bernard Mangelsdorf of Tweed Heads has not only been a user of the application for the past 18 months but a Trapster moderator, who verifies and corrects members' reports of speed traps.

Mr Mangelsdorf, 23, said the number of Trapster users in Queensland has increased as more speed cameras have been rolled out by police and transport authorities. "There are a lot of speed traps in Queensland, especially around the Gold Coast," he said.

"I sometimes drive up to Brisbane and any speed camera vans are usually reported."

Mr Mangelsdorf said anyone could report speed camera locations on the Internet, or via their mobile phones and because it was a user-based system it was different to GPS systems that simply showed fixed camera locations.

He said he had no problem with police using speed guns on mobile patrols but disliked the use of speed camera vans.

"I often drive to Byron Bay and there are always highway patrol police but they are not going to pull over someone who is only five kilometres over the speed limit."

Mr Mangelsdorf said he believed Trapster encouraged drivers to slow down or be more aware of their speed.

[Lightning Strike XR6]

Just got it then. It's a freebie too!

[GS608]

Thanks for the heads up Sunday Mail haha
will be downloading this now

[ThePistonHead]

Just downloaded it, thanks for the heads up csv8 and the sunday mail.

[SKITZD]

It looks pretty cool just downloaded it.

[GasoLane]

The Sunday Mail reporters must be all be Apple or Blackberry users as this works with most smartphones and Nav equipment.

[TURBOTAXI]

Ok I have juts installed it.... hope the uptake is good, if enough people use it it will be great.

Thanks. Plus Rep.

[Mr Brooksy]

Thanks, thats a good application.

[Rodp]

Had it installed for a while. It's largely useless. Uses push to get updated information and requires the good will of other users to input accurate information so it's generally late and I'm getting updates about incidents quite a distance from me.

At least on my iPhone, takes way too long to input information about an incident to the point where it's dangerous to do so - probably a lot more concentration required than punching in an SMS.

Close to uninstalling it as it also chews up serious battery if you run it realtime.

[CFOUR]

thanks for the heads up.

[flappist]

Sunday Mail next week:

Drug importing terrorist paedofile arrested because of a raid in Tweed Heads on last wednesday.

QLD Police special task force have raided a home in Tweed Heads after a tip off in last weeks Sunday Mail. A 23 year old man has been found with 500kg of heroin, 100 terabytes of child pornography and a special terrorist computer system designed to destroy the peoples protectors by reducing the rightful revenue of the Popular peoples democratic republic of QLD.

The head of the special task force, Superduperintendent Adolf Bligh was quoted "Enemies off ze state vill be dealt wiff, mine sister vill reign supreme for ze 1000 year reich und zeez drug dealing paedofile terrorists like Herr Manglesdorf vill all be shot"

The trial held last monday found the terrorist guilty and he was executed on tuesday. An invoice for the bullet used to shoot the terrorist as well as cleaning costs for the rifle has been sent to the family of the terrorist for them to pay when they are finally released from the special re-education camp in which they are being held.

[cool65]

Originally Posted by flappist

Sunday Mail next week:

Drug importing terrorist paedofile arrested because of a raid in Tweed Heads on last wednesday.

QLD Police special task force have raided a home in Tweed Heads after a tip off in last weeks Sunday Mail. A 23 year old man has been found with 500kg of heroin, 100 terabytes of child pornography and a special terrorist computer system designed to destroy the peoples protectors by reducing the rightful revenue of the Popular peoples democratic republic of QLD.

The head of the special task force, Superduperintendent Adolf Bligh was quoted "Enemies off ze state vill be dealt wiff, mine sister vill reign supreme for ze 1000 year reich und zeez drug dealing paedofile terrorists like Herr Manglesdorf vill all be shot"

The trial held last monday found the terrorist guilty and he was executed on tuesday. An invoice for the bullet used to shoot the terrorist as well as cleaning costs for the rifle has been sent to the family of the terrorist for them to pay when they are finally released from the special re-education camp in which they are being held.

Thank god he moved to Tweed Heads - he used to live 3 doors down from me and the pill press used to run 24/7- bloody noisy. Our local internet was always slow and I wondered why the kids walked on the other side of the street. He was good for a loan though!

[fangq]

Originally Posted by Mr Brooksy

Thanks, thats a good application.

Just loaded to Nokia n97. Make sure you load it to mass memory and go to the application manager ( suite ) and specify an internet connection for Trapster.

cheers
Steve

[SKITZD]

Now ive had a chance to play with it, I dont like it. I used it on my Ipod touch (for a little fun) which is hooked up to dads wireless in Western Syd. It worked well but for some reason it decided I was located in the central coast!

Figure that one out O.o

[Riksta]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

The Sunday Mail reporters must be all be Apple or Blackberry users as this works with most smartphones and Nav equipment.

Gonna suss it out and see if it runs on Windows Mobile, might be handy for my phone if it does Adelaide as well!

[My poor XF]

Originally Posted by Riksta

Gonna suss it out and see if it runs on Windows Mobile, might be handy for my phone if it does Adelaide as well!

I have it, but i need a mount to use it as it needs gps and drains power. Dont know how many others in Adelaide have it, i went by a couple of unreported cameras, but it does show spots where they might hide.

Its also good for reporting traffic snarls and accidents etc

[mrbaxr6t]

Originally Posted by flappist

Sunday Mail next week:

Drug importing terrorist paedofile arrested because of a raid in Tweed Heads on last wednesday.

QLD Police special task force have raided a home in Tweed Heads after a tip off in last weeks Sunday Mail. A 23 year old man has been found with 500kg of heroin, 100 terabytes of child pornography and a special terrorist computer system designed to destroy the peoples protectors by reducing the rightful revenue of the Popular peoples democratic republic of QLD.

The head of the special task force, Superduperintendent Adolf Bligh was quoted "Enemies off ze state vill be dealt wiff, mine sister vill reign supreme for ze 1000 year reich und zeez drug dealing paedofile terrorists like Herr Manglesdorf vill all be shot"

The trial held last monday found the terrorist guilty and he was executed on tuesday. An invoice for the bullet used to shoot the terrorist as well as cleaning costs for the rifle has been sent to the family of the terrorist for them to pay when they are finally released from the special re-education camp in which they are being held.

wOw I laughed so hard I nearly wet myself we cant have people "avoiding" speed traps now can we how will they pay for all the lurks and perks of the job??

thank you muchly for the headsup

[hydraulicmonkey]

Got this app the other day and it seems to be working well.
It also brings home the point that speed cameras are the only way cops enforce the road rules anymore. I have been past several cameras in the last few days but not one single patrol car!!!!!!!!
Not a good enough cost/benefit ratio I suppose.
:

[Rodp]

My point;



Since taking the capture 10 minutes ago I've received another 3 notifications, all about an hours drive from me.

Good in theory, needs to be able to provide information that's relevant closer to where I am.

In the process of typing this email, it's gone off again!

[SeduceXR]

Originally Posted by Rodp

My point;



Since taking the capture 10 minutes ago I've received another 3 notifications, all about an hours drive from me.

Good in theory, needs to be able to provide information that's relevant closer to where I am.

In the process of typing this email, it's gone off again!

try logging into their website. I think there is an option there to set the radius for push notifications from your last viewed position

[kezzer]

wow awesome, this will come in handy, cheers

[tranquilized]

Turn push notifications off completely, then load the app only when your driving. I had the same problem - constant alerts of irrelevant and distant speed traps at times when I had no intention of driving anywhere anyway.

[Rodp]

Originally Posted by SeduceXR

try logging into their website. I think there is an option there to set the radius for push notifications from your last viewed position

I'll have to check that out. I uninstalled it this morning due to waking up to 43 notifications this morning - it was just driving me bonkers last night.

I assume your last viewed position would be the last time you ran the app...? So it probably doesn't update your position when the app is just receiving push without running.

[CFOUR]

YOU HAVE TO PHYSICALLY SIGN OUT WHEN NOT IN USE. this will stop notifications.

[gthofan]

Its a great app! what i do is just set the radius to about 1km, then using backgrounder it runs in the background, so its constantly updating. When i get home, exit the program, and turn push notifications off. It scared the hell out of me the first night i had it. Woke up at midnight to a police siren blaring next to my head..

[AdzT3-146]

Just downloaded it to my N97, will try it out.