Trapster - The Next-Generation Fuzz Buster App

Although set speed limits can reduce fatalities, speeding tickets are also a way for governments to bring in badly needed revenue. Consequently, the average number of speeding tickets has increased by 50% in the last three years.

Today, approximately one in six drivers will recieven a speeding ticket this year. Astoundingly, this amounts to more than 100,000 speeding tickets per day with the average speeding ticket costing approximately $150. Furthermore, speeding tickets continue to cost money by increased insurance rates. Accordingly, just one speeding ticket, will cost an average of $900 more over the course of three years. Considering these facts, no one wants a speeding ticket if they can avoid it.

Back in the old days, drivers used to communicate speed traps through CB radios or by flashing their headlights at a driver approaching a speed trap in the opposite lane. When radar detectors were invented, they helped drivers avoid speed tickets. However, with the usage of laser and instant-on speed traps, radar detectors became less effective. Unless traffic is heavy, most radar detectors are ineffective against instant-on and laser speed traps. Since laser beams don't carry well over long distances and instant-on bands can be turned on last minute, by the time your radar detector recoginizes the beam, it is alredy to late.

Invented by Pete Tenereillo, Trapster is the next-generation fuzzbuster.  A free shareware program, Trapster is two-way system radar detection program. By using signals from Skyhook wireless wi-fi, Trapster records speed traps in real-time. Drivers alert other drivers of upcoming speed traps with push notification or by calling an 800 telephone number. Drivers can be alerted of upcoming speed traps by either an audible alert or maps pointing to the location of the speed trap. In addition to radar detection, Trapster has road guidance and a feature that allows you record your trip information and photos on Facebook and Twitter.

Most newer cell phones and personal digital assistants can support Trapster. Trapster will work on any phone that has full J2ME support, GPS hardware, and unrestricted GPS capabilities. For those technologically challenged like myself, simply put, J2ME allows programmers to use Java programming language and related toolkits to develop programs and applications for mobile, wireless devices that have a limited processor speed or small memory. An example of phones which support Trapster are:

• iPhone
• BlackBerry
• Android (the TMobile, G1, and others)
• Nokia N95, N97, 5800, E71, and other Symbian s60 phones
• Unlocked J2ME phones with GPS (for example the TMobile Sony Ericsson W370
  

Unlike radar detectors, Trapster is effective against laser radars and instant-on radars since users report speed traps, and you are alerted well in advance. Although Trapster is more effective with more users, according to Tenereillo, you only need ten users in an area for the system to be effective. Considering Trapster is free application, what's there to lose? Since Trapster does not fall under radar detector, text messaging, or hands-free calling laws, it is legal in most countries. In fact, many policemen were not opposed to Trapster since it does slow down drivers and preventing speeding is the ultimate goal.