New Jersey-2020-AR34-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.