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.

Comments

NYPD is willfully ignoring the law

[Anonymous Coward]

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.

For speed traps, even more effective

[Frobnicator]

The article talks both of DWI and of other speed and safety traps.

The goal for speed enforcement is (or should be) for drivers to slow traffic down to the speed limit and drive safely. When the alerts show up, that is exactly what drivers do near the checkpoint. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, at least in that zone.

What they should be asking for is inserting extra markers when dangerous conditions are forming, so those app users can reduce traffic speeds before a crash occurs.

Re:badges for bad guys

[Bruinwar]

Ahm.... these are DUI checkpoints. The revenue is not much, but they get drunk drivers who are currently drunk off the road. This isn't speed cameras or other big ticket revenue generators.

DUI convictions are huge money for municipalities. If somehow all alcohol users stopped driving, there would be budget shortfalls. A budget shortfall actually happened in the city of Westland Mi about 10 years ago due to a "labor action" on the part of the police department over contract negotiations. They stopped pulling people over & arresting them for DUI for several months.

The massive fines for DUI is actually part of many cities budgets.

Re:Response:

[ganjadude]

in NY it is law for them to post where these are going to be anyway.... so I am not really sure what their complaint is. what that waze is posting what the PD is legally obligated to post before any checkpoints anyway??