Mobile application trapster claims it can help avoid speeding traps and expensive tickets

TAMPA - A new mobile application claims to help users avoid cop speeding traps.

The folks behind the free application called “Trapster” claim it is widely downloaded, driving related technology. They say six million people use it world-wide, including 12,000 drivers who downloaded the application in June from the Bay Area.

Trapster posts on its website, “We crowdsource speed traps from across the globe, so you can avoid unnecessary speeding tickets.”

Trapster can be used with the Blackberry, iPhone, Nokia, Android, Windows Mobile, Palm Pre, Garmin or Tom Tom.

It is sharing-based technology. With a touch or a click, drivers plug in where they see speed enforcement zones, red light cameras and even road kill.

The information is fanned-out to other drivers using the app. Confidence levels are attached to the intelligence.

We set out to test Trapster alongside a local driver and see if law enforcement is on board with the technology. We did not speed during the test-drive.

About one mile before we passed a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper on I-4, Trapster sent out an audible and visible alert.

Local driver Hannah Langford said, “It worked. That was good because it told me well in advance. It does slow me down because I am always on the lookout for the traps.”

Langford points out what she considers negative aspects of Trapster. She says it drains your cell phone battery quickly and sends outdated alerts as much as 20 days old.

Langford says, “It can be hit-or-miss and I think it’s because not a lot of people are using it.”

In our unscientific test, while Trapster alerted us to a trooper running radar roadside, Trapster was silent during a second pass by the same trooper just minutes later.

Local Florida Highway Patrol troopers tell ABC Action News their only concern with Trapster is with driver distraction. Trapster recommends always using Trapster with a mount.

When asked if Trapster is a good idea, Sgt. Larry Kraus says, “Of course. Anything that educates the public and slows them down is a great tool.”

If you don’t have a cell phone, you can view the “Trap-Map” and many of Trapster’s alerts on a computer by visiting Trapster.com .