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Avoiding speed traps and red light cameras

RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) – Programs that help you avoid speed traps and red light cameras are becoming more and more popular.

It starts with websites like trapster.com or phantomalert.com. Ultimately they're designed to keep you from getting traffic tickets, and some people swear by them.

But driver beware: Big brother is still watching.

Like millions of other Americans, Jim Mathis doesn't start his car without his GPS mounted and ready to go. And for the past year or so, it's done more than just give turn by turn directions.

"I go up to Boston. I go as far west as Detroit and south down to Florida," Mathis said. "So, in unfamiliar areas it's nice to know where dangerous curves, railroad tracks, school crossing or speed traps are located."

Jim went to phantomalert.com. For a fee, the website allows you to download a list of 400,000 locations of speed traps, red light cameras and speed cameras -- even railroads and school zones.

"It's verified by the subscribers," Mathis said. "They report in where the speed traps are, where the school zones are. You rate them. If it's there it's good, if not, then they take it away."

Jim loaded the info into his Garmin GPS and says it works like a charm. We rode through one of the warning zones with him. Chippenham Parkway just past the Powhite Parkway, and the program announced a speed trap spot ahead.

The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police believes two types of people use these programs:  Those who want to become better, more attentive drivers and those who want to work around the law.

"If your motivation is to avoid getting caught while you still insist on speeding and running red lights, you truly are one of the most dangerous drivers on the road," said Dana Schrad, director of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police.

Schrad says police mix it up. Moving traffic enforcement spots, red light cameras and DUI checkpoints. So it's a crap shoot if you're trying to slip by the cops.

"What they need to remember is, none of these services are 100 percent reliable because something like trapster relies on people sending in alerts."

While Schrad argues it's all about safety, giving out traffic tickets is big business. For example, the City of Richmond received more than $1 million in traffic fines and fee in the last fiscal year.

"If law enforcement can give fewer tickets that means we have safer drivers on the road that means fewer traffic crashes to investigate that means fewer notices to families who've lost a loved one in a crash. That's a lot more important to us than the revenue that can be raised by tickets," Schrad said.

Back on the road with Jim, he says he loves his alert program -- for safety and for saving money.

Phantomalert.com costs $40 a year. And not only are they available to upload to your GPs, a lot of the warning programs are available as application for cell phones.

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