How do police build better speed traps? Well, in Europe, they buy GPS data from satellite navigation giant TomTom.
Some European police departments are getting tips for placement of traffic cameras, and those tips are coming right from inside the cars of drivers via their in-car TomTom GPS systems.
Dutch police said they obtained information from TomTom, a maker of popular satellite navigation devices, while setting up speed traps, prompting concerns by users and an email apology (as well as a YouTube response) from TomTom CEO Harold Goddijn.
Related: New phone apps help drivers evade police
George de Boer, TomTom Senior Manager, admitted the company sold users’ GPS data to police, but he said the company didn’t know police were using the information to ambush drivers.
"Our intent was to give that road data to authorities to make the infrastructure better and to make roads better, and to make traffic more safe."
Bernhard Jens, of Utrecht Police, told AP the data remained anonymous.
So far, there are no reports of North American police agencies using TomTom data to set up speed traps.
Outside of Europe, TomTom also sells GPS data to governments in the U.S. and Canada.
Ontario, for example, has used TomTom data in the past to refine evacuation plans for the city of Toronto, according to the Wall Street Journal.
TomTom says it'll be reviewing its policy on data sharing to better protect users' privacy in the future.
See the video report below:
(Amazing stuff TomTom, everyone stopped using your GPS units and you became that low.)
Posted by Ammar.Hasan on May-04-2011 18:10:
Wow... Thats pretty fucked!
Posted by VDub on May-04-2011 23:30:
This is like 2 week old news bro...
Tom Tom has since stated that they stopped this practice...
Posted by E2EK1EL on May-05-2011 00:09:
^^^
Must be old, GF found it on the star today.
Posted by GGM on May-05-2011 00:20:
Corporation doing evil for a buck? Noooo neverrrrr...
Posted by rabbitjoker on May-05-2011 01:20:
I don't see why this is an issue. Selling randomized data is quite common - how do you think radio/tv stations get traffic data (cellular towers track speed of specific signals). No different than GPS data.
Posted by GGM on May-05-2011 01:27:
quote:
Originally posted by rabbitjoker
I don't see why this is an issue. Selling randomized data is quite common - how do you think radio/tv stations get traffic data (cellular towers track speed of specific signals). No different than GPS data.
The selling of it is ok. But cops using it for speed traps is brutal. Think about it as a TomTom customer you are paying money to a company who is then using you to make even more money by increasing the odds of you getting a speeding ticket?
Posted by rabbitjoker on May-05-2011 01:32:
quote:
Originally posted by GGM
The selling of it is ok. But cops using it for speed traps is brutal. Think about it as a TomTom customer you are paying money to a company who is then using you to make even more money by increasing the odds of you getting a speeding ticket?
If the police bought the data, I again see no difference.
Posted by E2EK1EL on May-05-2011 01:46:
quote:
Originally posted by GGM
The selling of it is ok. But cops using it for speed traps is brutal. Think about it as a TomTom customer you are paying money to a company who is then using you to make even more money by increasing the odds of you getting a speeding ticket?
TomTom and other companies scan GPS forums for new RLC and ST locations, we did a little test one day and placed a dumb location to get the verdict.
I've talked to 3 cops about this, they actually liked the idea since they consider it as a safety zone.
The worst speed trap is infamous trap heading into montreal on the highway or some off ramp. Every TO driver gets caught instantly on it. It's like that DVP off ramp for Richmond St, speed trap zoned @ 50 km/h and red light camera waiting for you.
Posted by rabbitjoker on May-05-2011 01:52:
There is even a company called Uber who is using this data to direct a livery service. Again, no problem at all with this.
Posted by slingshot on May-05-2011 02:13:
quote:
Originally posted by rabbitjoker
If the police bought the data, I again see no difference.
well, technically you're buying the data. the police are just an intermediary acting on your behalf. so the question becomes, is this the most efficient use of your dollar or could a better use be found?
Posted by Ozmozis on May-05-2011 02:54:
Surprise Surprise!
Posted by jon jon on May-05-2011 03:05:
quote:
Originally posted by slingshot
well, technically you're buying the data. the police are just an intermediary acting on your behalf. so the question becomes, is this the most efficient use of your dollar or could a better use be found?
nice post!
Posted by GGM on May-05-2011 13:49:
quote:
Originally posted by rabbitjoker
If the police bought the data, I again see no difference.
I guess you don't speed then. I do though and would be royally pissed if I found out I gave money for a GPS service to a company who was turning around and increasing the odds of my getting a ticket for it.
Posted by bcope on May-05-2011 14:53:
simple solution: don't speed
Posted by ChemEnhanced on May-05-2011 15:03:
quote:
Originally posted by bcope
simple solution: don't speed
+1...and if you do speed...accept your punishment.
Posted by ChemEnhanced on May-05-2011 15:05:
quote:
Originally posted by GGM
I guess you don't speed then. I do though and would be royally pissed if I found out I gave money for a GPS service to a company who was turning around and increasing the odds of my getting a ticket for it.
so you would be pissed off at a GPS service because you got caught breaking the law....doesn't make sense to me.
Posted by E2EK1EL on May-05-2011 16:06:
Legit speeds traps are fine, but the real speed traps are BS.
BS = 80 or 100 km/h zone and instantly drops to 50 km/h zone with one little warning signs.
I only know of 2 locations in Toronto with this kind of trap.
Posted by VDub on May-05-2011 16:11:
Guys nevermind the don't speed bullshit...
Everybody knows that our speed laws are incredibly ridiculous, antiquated, and only serve as a cash cow for government...
The issue here is one of trust...
I trust that services which I pay for are not going to be used against me...
Posted by VDub on May-05-2011 16:14:
quote:
Originally posted by E2EK1EL
Legit speeds traps are fine, but the real speed traps are BS.
BS = 80 or 100 km/h zone and instantly drops to 50 km/h zone with one little warning signs.
I only know of 2 locations in Toronto with this kind of trap.
How about when it drops from 60- 40km/hr in a school zone on a four lane road in the middle of the night ON A WEEKEND??
It should be 40 when flashing and it should flash during the day and only on school days...
But if that were the case, they'd hand out less tickets...
Posted by bcope on May-05-2011 17:01:
again, try slowing down. if you see the the speed limit drop, press on the pedal beside the gas
very, very simple
Posted by E2EK1EL on May-05-2011 17:58:
quote:
Originally posted by bcope
again, try slowing down. if you see the the speed limit drop, press on the pedal beside the gas
very, very simple
Not that simple as you think, especailly in areas you've never driven in before.
A) One tiny warning sign for the speed drop
B) Radar is set prefectly to nail you, once you pass that tiny spped sign
C) Sometimes you could be late hitting that "pedal beside the gas" due to monitoring of traffic that's in front or behind you and looking for that tiny sign.
I've seen ppl nailed with these spots pretty often. I once had this dude behind me, honking me hard because I dropped from 80 to 50 before the BS speed trap area.
*It was alerted on my TomTom software(ironic eh?) with the POV data my forum uses, we set it really early in advance due to curving of the road.*
Later down the road, homeboy got pulled over for doing 90 in 50 zone. I gave him a thumbs up through my sunroof while I passed him.
Posted by VDub on May-05-2011 19:01:
Just because something is the law, doesn't make it right, fair, or realistic...
Some laws are there for the wrong reasons...
Posted by ChemEnhanced on May-05-2011 19:17:
quote:
Originally posted by VDub
Just because something is the law, doesn't make it right, fair, or realistic...
Some laws are there for the wrong reasons...
if you are willing to disobey those laws that are unfair then you should be prepared to accept the consequences of disobeying those laws or fight them to the bitter end.
Posted by VDub on May-05-2011 19:36:
quote:
Originally posted by ChemEnhanced
if you are willing to disobey those laws that are unfair then you should be prepared to accept the consequences of disobeying those laws or fight them to the bitter end.
And I do. But a company who I'm a customer of shouldn't work against me...
Anyway, they stopped the practice so it's all moot anyway..
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