In one of the most ridiculous power-plays by local government I’ve seen in a long time, Police are encouraging Google, owner of the app Waze, to discontinue its cop tracker function of the map app, for fear that it could result in the targeting and harming of police officers.
The problem with this is its the government trying to limit access to social networking systems that allow us to communicate with other motorists on the road about potential hazards and risks simply because, in all honesty, being warned about hidden officers on the interstate can and does result in a reduction of speeding tickets, and consequently revenue generation, for local law enforcement agencies.
This is an obvious First Amendment concern. A State actor, the Police, is trying to limit how you freely communicate with other citizens on the road. And for what? A spurious allegation that such activity could result in the targeting of the police.
Apps like Waze make it more difficult for officers to post-up and pick off speeding drivers. The alternative to catching criminals on our roadways? How about actual police work. Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York City, focused his efforts on getting police officers out of vehicles, and walking beats. That’s the way you stop crime.
If you are going to loiter to try to catch people breaking the law, that’s breaking the law, and we should have every right to use modern technology to call out loitering law enforcement.
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