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NYPD Demands Removal of DUI Checkpoints From Waze App, Google Refuses

posted by martyb on Friday February 08 2019, @03:39AM   
from the where-there's-a-will-there's-a...waze dept.

takyon writes:

NYPD asks Google to scrap Waze's DUI checkpoints

The NYPD has sent Google a cease-and-desist letter, asking it to axe a Waze feature that allows users to mark cops' locations on the navigation app. Based on the letter first seen by Streetsblog NYC and CBS New York, authorities believe the feature is making it harder to enforce the law and keep the roads safe. The NYPD sent the cease-and-desist just a couple of weeks after Waze debuted speed camera notifications, but the cops' letter mostly focused on the fact that the ability allows users to give each other a heads-up about sobriety checkpoints.

[...] [Based] on the statement it provided to NYT, [Google] doesn't have any intention to give in to the NYPD's demand. It told the publication that safety is a top priority for the company and that "informing drivers about upcoming speed traps allows them to be more careful and make safer decisions when they're on the road."

Also at Gizmodo.

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Original Submission

• Re:Freedom of speech? Re:Freedom of speech? (Score: 3, Interesting) by Oakenshield on Friday February 08 2019, @04:24PM (2 children)

  by Oakenshield (4900) on Friday February 08 2019, @04:24PM (#798374)

  An anecdotal example of this was seen in my home town about a decade ago. A man had gotten busted by a DUI checkpoint & thought it had been unfair. He circled back around to a point about two blocks before the checkpoint, stopped beside the road, & held up a sign that read "DUI checkpoint ahead! AVOID!"
  The cops tried to arrest him for interfering with the checkpoint, obstruction of justice, & every other bullshit charge they could think of to lob at him. All it took was his one call, made to a lawyer, & the case got dropped faster than you can say "Freedom of Speach". They couldn't stop a public citizen from peaceful protest, & holding up a sign angry about said checkpoint was dead-on "peaceful protest". His lawyer reminded the cops that the STATE didn't have enough money to pay his client's winnings should it go to court much less our CITY, so the city had to drop all charges.

  I'd like to believe this was true but it fails the logic test. If someone were "busted" at a DUI checkpoint, there is very little chance they would be arrested, processed, released, recover their vehicle, make a sign and have time left to return to the scene while the checkpoint was ongoing. This sounds like urban legend or wishful thinking.

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• Re:Freedom of speech? (Score: 2) by dx3bydt3 on Friday February 08 2019, @10:10PM

  by dx3bydt3 (82) on Friday February 08 2019, @10:10PM (#798561)

  Here in Canada They would be checking vehicle registration, insurance and motor vehicle inspection as well. Expiry or lack of documentation for any of those merits a fine, but you go on your way. Presumably something similar could apply in the state in question.

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• Re:Freedom of speech? (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 09 2019, @04:58AM

  by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 09 2019, @04:58AM (#798707)

  That story partially true. Similar things have happened across the country, but the most recent ones I remember happened in Ohio and Connecticut.

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