Where Are the Police Apps?
Police apps offer a safe and secure way for law enforcement to broadcast information to the public. These apps are also a great tool for helping officers keep in touch with their communities.
This app is designed to help drivers stay informed about patrols and speed cams in their area. It has a simple UI and features an extensive database of patrols and cams.
1. Google Maps
Google Maps is one of the most widely used digital street maps on the planet. It is nourished by information from Google Street View cars, GPS signals on smartphones or mobile radio cells, as well as by other methods. It enables users to determine their location and plan routes for walking, biking or driving. It also allows them to find shops, restaurants or other points of interest and rate them.
Another great feature of Google Maps is the ability to listen to scanners. This is particularly useful for law enforcement officers who want to stay informed of what is happening on the streets around them.
New Android applications are constantly being developed to provide law enforcement professionals with digital resources both on and off duty. This includes our very own Police1 app which provides officers with breaking news, tactical tips, photo reports and the entire archive of expert P1 columnist articles. It’s available for FREE on all Android devices.
2. Waze
Waze is a popular GPS navigation app that uses crowdsourced data to alert drivers to police patrols. The app primarily offers traffic information and warnings for speed cameras, but it also provides other tools to improve your driving experience.
For example, you can tap a menu icon to find out how many police officers are in the area. You can also get real-time traffic conditions, and you can see if the local speed limit has increased or decreased.
Users of Waze can also contribute by reporting accidents, hazard spots, map issues, and road closures to the community. This way, other drivers can avoid these areas and save time.
While the app is a great tool for driving around town, it may not be as useful in rural areas where there’s less input from other users. It’s also a battery-drain and data-hog, so you should close it when not in use or keep a portable car charger handy.
3. Speed Cams & Patrols
The app lets users see where police are using their automated speed enforcement cameras. It’s a big deal for law enforcement because it changes driver behavior and increases compliance. Unlike real troopers who can spot a speeder from miles away, these devices measure cars’ speeds with Doppler radar and take a picture of the license plate if it exceeds the limit. Then the ticket gets sent to the car owner.
The newest version of the app also includes a feature that finds a safe route to avoid patrols that have been reported by other users. It uses a complex algorhythm to calculate the probability and only shows you locations where the likelihood is high. You can confirm or negate a reported patrol as well. The most reliable users get a privileged status that allows them to see all patrols for free.
The new tool comes just as Albany lawmakers are slow-walking efforts to allow the city to regulate its own red-light and speed camera system and even expand it from the current 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekday limit.
4. Red Light Cameras & Speed Traps
Red light cameras are a great way to catch people who run red lights. They can also capture photos of license plates and faces. Red light running causes hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of injuries every year.
There are a few apps that help drivers avoid red light and speed camera areas. One is called NYC SpeedcamBuster, which has an interface that is similar to that of the direction-finding app Waze and claims to have the most accurate list of speed cameras in New York City.
Another option is Police Cams & Patrols, which has a simple UI and lets users report the location of law enforcement. This information is then reflected on the app’s map, which can be used to warn drivers about authorities or alert them when they’re close to a speed trap. The app is regularly updated, with improved performance and new features. It even offers a search function to make it easier to find specific locations.