Bill Text: NJ AR34 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Waze Mobile Limited to prohibit users of its mobile application from sharing sobriety checkpoint location information.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-14 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee [AR34 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-AR34-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2020 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman NICHOLAS CHIARAVALLOTI
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Waze Mobile Limited to prohibit users of its mobile application from sharing sobriety checkpoint location information.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging Waze Mobile Limited to prohibit users of its mobile application from sharing sobriety checkpoint location information.
Whereas, Law enforcement checkpoints involving the stopping of motor vehicles at predetermined locations to determine driver sobriety are an effective method in detecting and deterring the operation of a motor vehicle by drivers who are intoxicated; and
Whereas, Sobriety checkpoints are a lawful practice administered by law enforcement in the interest of public safety; and
Whereas, The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that sobriety checkpoints reduced alcohol-related fatal, injury, and property damage motor vehicle crashes each by approximately 20 percent; and
Whereas, Because of the effectiveness of sobriety checkpoints, there is a significant public interest in maintaining the integrity of sobriety checkpoint implementation on the roads of this State; and
Whereas, Waze Mobile Limited (Waze), which is owned by Google and operates a mobile application (app) used for navigation, allows users to input global positioning system data information on law enforcement activity to share with other users of the app; and
Whereas, Waze app users may make a note of the nature of the law enforcement activity, including information on whether it is a sobriety checkpoint; and
Whereas, The posting of this information allows users to avoid sobriety checkpoints by knowing the location ahead of time and may hinder the ability for law enforcement to preserve public safety by preventing the detection of intoxicated driving; and
Whereas, The sharing of sobriety checkpoint location information may also be construed as an action meant to discourage or impair the administration of traffic laws in this State; and
Whereas, The New York City Police Department recently sent a cease-and-desist letter to Google, demanding that Waze prohibit users of its app from sharing sobriety checkpoint information; and
Whereas, Because of the effectiveness of sobriety checkpoints in reducing the number of alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes and because sobriety checkpoints are a lawful practice administered by law enforcement, it is all together fitting and proper, and in the public interest, to urge the Chief Executive Officer of Waze to prohibit users of its app from sharing the location information for sobriety checkpoints; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House urges the
Chief Executive Officer of Waze Mobile Limited to prohibit users of its mobile
application from sharing sobriety checkpoint location information.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the Chief Executive Officer of Waze Mobile Limited and the Chief Executive Officer of Google LLC.
STATEMENT
This Assembly Resolution urges the Chief Executive Officer of Waze Mobile Limited (Waze) to prohibit users of its mobile application (app) from sharing sobriety checkpoint location information. Sobriety checkpoints are a lawful practice administered by law enforcement in the interest of public safety to detect and deter intoxicated driving.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that sobriety checkpoints reduced alcohol-related fatal, injury, and property damage motor vehicle crashes each by approximately 20 percent. Because of the effectiveness of sobriety checkpoints, there is a significant public interest in maintaining the integrity of sobriety checkpoint implementation on the roads of this State.
Waze, which is owned by Google, allows users to input global positioning system data information for law enforcement activity to share with other users. Waze app users may make a note of the nature of the law enforcement activity, including information on whether it is a sobriety checkpoint. The posting of this information allows users to avoid sobriety checkpoints by knowing the location ahead of time and may hinder the ability for law enforcement to preserve public safety by preventing the detection of drivers driving while intoxicated. The sharing of sobriety checkpoint location information may also be construed as an action meant to discourage or impair the administration of traffic laws in this State.
