How Your Smartphone Can Actually Save You From Getting A Ticket

On our recent family road trip, my Apple Car play announced "Speed Check Reported Ahead." It's the first time I've ever had that happen, so I was curious to see if there really was a speed check ahead. Sure enough, a State Patrol was there with a radar gun out tucked in between the cover of some trees in a turnaround. Fortunately, I wasn't speeding, but that got me wondering how this works.

Long before navigation systems would notify you, people went on social media, or even called someone who was on the same route to warn them to slow down so you don't get a ticket. Now, it's just as easy as clicking on the screen to report one, or verify if one is still in place.

Apple Maps VS Google Maps

Both Apple Maps and Google Maps have report features that basically do the same thing. You can report a crash, and obstacle on the road, construction, or a speed check. (That's another name for a speed trap.)

However, only Apple users will have access to reports from other Apple users, and the same goes with Google users. That's because they are competing companies, and they can control the data and privacy of each user. For example, Apple Maps actually collects data and makes it anonymous and aggregated making sure that it can't be traced back to the user.

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In some cases, third-party apps that are cross-platform could collect data from both maps services.

Speed Check Reporting Is Protected Under 1st Amendment

It's legal to share information, and it's protected under our constitution. Cops may not be happy that we're using the technology, but it currently is legal in Minnesota. So there you have it, your smartphone might actually get you out of a ticket for a change.