Posted on 01/26/2015 6:17:03 PM PST by BenLurkin
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck complained in a letter to Google’s chief executive on Dec. 30 that Waze could be “misused by those with criminal intent to endanger police officers and the community.”
The Los Angeles Police Department said Monday it had not heard back from Google about whether it had addressed Beck’s concerns.
Google purchased Waze for $966 million in 2013.
There are no known connections between any attack on police and Waze, although Beck said Waze was used in the killing of two New York Police Department officers on Dec. 20. The Instagram account of the gunman in that case included a screenshot from Waze along with other messages threatening police.
Investigators do not believe the shooter, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, used Waze to ambush the NYPD officers, in part because police say Brinsley tossed his cellphone more than two miles from where he shot the officers. In his letter to Google, Beck said that Brinsley had been using the Waze app to track police since early December.
“I am confident your company did not intend the Waze app to be a means to allow those who wish to commit crimes to use the unwitting Waze community as their lookouts for the location of police officers,” Beck wrote.
(Excerpt) Read more at sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com ...
I have used WAZE for years and love it. It calculates the fastest routes and considers the highway speed of other WAZERs around you and on your path. Cops are only one of the many road conditions that it presents. Accidents, cars on the side of the road, construction, etc. Take the cop reports out and I’ll still use it...
Sounds like a boon.
Thanks
Meanwhile the cops are electronically scanning every license plate and running it through databases that tell them who has a CCW in a neighboring state so they can bust them for a weapons crime.
Meanwhile the cops are electronically scanning every license plate and running it through databases that tell them who has a CCW in a neighboring state so they can bust them for a weapons crime.
_____________
Really? Where?
Freedom of speech means seeing and hearing things that may offend you or may be disagreeable depending on ones point of view. The PC police apparently wish to muzzle society and control the agenda. This is a freedom of speech issue.. A while back it was ruled that flashing one’s headlights to warn others of speed traps was legal.
I’ve never heard of this app but it sounds as something that serves the public interest, in that the public has a right to know where their public servants can be found if help is needed. This is just as we should know where photo traffic enforcement cameras are located so we can drive safely
I am glad you posted this,
I love Waze, Its my favorite phone app.
Good point!
BUMP!
I use it fairly regularly if I’m getting out on the interstate. Not necessarily for the position of LEOs - I generally do not speed. However, they can cause others to slam on their brakes or do other stupid stuff. The app also lets you report traffic backups, road hazards, etc. It is also fairly accurate at predicting arrival times and I like the 3D moving map display better than my dedicated Garmin.
What is it?
I lived 50+ years in So California without it so...
There are at least 10 counties doing that in Nor Cal and Central Calif.
They have even hired private outfits to scan all cars parked in major mall parking lots.
Reason?
Oh, just CUZ.
Nice, huh?
cops don’t like citizens to have surveillance tools even if they are inferior to their own.
That is not right to show photo of a police hideout!
Google better remove all the listings for any donut shop in North America!
If you commute more than 10 miles to work these days, you can't live without it. It provides you with live traffic info and alternate routes when people are rude enough to crash in front of you. Southern California is one giant gridlock for at least 6 hours a day. Waze gives you a chance to avoid a lot of unnecessary delays.
You are threatening the life of those police by posting that picture here.
This is not funny. If anything happens... Remove your waze app before its too late,
Please ping me with any Southern California related articles. Thank you!
If you want on or off this ping list, please FReepmail me.
How accurate is WAZE with traffic slowdowns etc., I’m interested only in finding out accuracy in predicting which route is the fastest.
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