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NYPD To Google: Stop Revealing the Location of Police Checkpoints (nypost.com)

schwit1 shares a report from the New York Post: The NYPD is calling on Google to yank a feature from its Waze traffic app that tips off drivers to police checkpoints -- warning it could be considered "criminal conduct," according to a report on Wednesday. The department sent a cease-and-desist letter over the weekend demanding Google disable the crowd-sourced app's function that allows motorists to pinpoint police whereabouts, StreetsBlog reported. "Individuals who post the locations of DWI checkpoints may be engaging in criminal conduct since such actions could be intentional attempts to prevent and/or impair the administration of the DWI laws and other relevant criminal and traffic laws," wrote Acting Deputy Commissioner for Legal Matters Ann Prunty in the letter, according to the website. My $0.02 is that the NYPD loses on first amendment grounds.

9 of 389 comments (clear)

  1. Re:For speed traps, even more effective by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    You are operating on the assumption that traffic tickets are about safety. In reality its about looting the public for money.

  2. Re:badges for bad guys by dcw3 · · Score: 4, Informative

    To continue to be a traffic cop they must consistently bring in at least as much as they are paid, in revenue. Thats the bare minimum too.
    I doubt america is so retarded that traffic cops get paid by the ticket "revenue" they bring in ...

    Then your doubt is ill placed. Years ago, a local police chief admitted to the Washington Post that they have quotas for traffic tickets. It's been common knowledge that this is the case in most jurisdictions. You'll also note that police departments are able to confiscate just about anything used in a crime, from cars to cash.

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  3. Re:NYPD is willfully ignoring the law by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    I haven't found a Supreme court opinion on the subject, but a Federal district court judge granted a preliminary injunction against the City/Police in Ellisville Missouri regarding this. See "Elli vs Ellisville" from 2014. (I am not the same AC you asked for a citation, just thought I'd give googling for one a shot)

  4. Re:NYPD is willfully ignoring the law by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 5, Informative

    About 5-10 years ago, there was a Supreme Court opinion that said people flashing their headlights to indicate a police presence was a 1st amendment right.

    This popped up way back in the 70's in the US, when social media was Citizen Band (CD) radios.

    Truckers would alert each other to where "Smoky" (a cop) or other "Bears" (yet more cops) were hiding.

    Normal folks would just tune in and listen to the "traffic reports", and were most grateful to the truckers.

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  5. Re:badges for bad guys by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 3, Informative

    Quotas are different than getting paid by the ticket. Cops don't get a commission for giving tickets. They are expected to give a certain number per month.

    I also know some states have non-tickets that count towards this quota. So, for instance, warnings for headlights being out or pulling over someone suspected of being drunk (but is just a little sloppy) still results in some paperwork. Because how do you know your traffic cops are doing anything if they go out for eight hours and wrote nothing down? They could be goofing off like in Super Troopers.

    And confiscation is a different kettle of fish altogether.

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  6. Re:Hey NYPD.. by jcr · · Score: 4, Informative

    maybe we should think about what exactly we're promoting here?

    What I'm promoting here is my right to tell someone else about surveillance. If you have an issue with that, go fuck yourself.

    -jcr

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  7. Re:For speed traps, even more effective by asylumx · · Score: 2, Informative

    It's easy to tell when a cop is there to slow traffic down as opposed to generating revenue. If the cop car is easily visible, they are trying to slow traffic down -- people will see the car and slow down. If they are hidden, they are trying to catch people i.e. generate revenue, not slow the overall traffic -- most cars won't see the cop car and will remain at high speeds.

  8. What to say by Bodhammer · · Score: 4, Informative

    I am going to remain silent. I want to see a lawyer.
    I do not consent to this search.
    Am I being detained? Am I free to go?
    Am I under arrest? What are the charges?

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  9. Go look up Beau of the Fifth Column by rsilvergun · · Score: 5, Informative

    on YouTube.

    Long story short it's a symptom of Tough on Crime Laws and police militarization that's created an "Us vs Them" mentality. The Drug War hurts a lot too since a large percentage of folks smoke pot or know someone who does and that means you're always scared shitless when a cops around since they can arrest you and take your stuff.

    The solution's easy: Stop Voting for Tough on Crime politicians, end the Drug war and stop civil asset forfeiture (which was created for the Drug War anyway). There's a few other odds and ends we can do (California has an anti-speed trap law, and properly funding your police so they're not dependent on civil asset forfeiture is a good start) too.

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