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A good use for text messaging. Trapster offers a user-guided warning service to tell you about speed traps and other hazardous conditions. (Photo courtesy of Trapster.com)

NEW YORK — Flashing your lights to warn other drivers may be a thing of the past now that there\’s Trapster, a free service that gives users the ability to send and receive information about the location of speed traps all around the city from their mobile phones.

The free service relies on users to report speed traps and other hazards by inputting the information via phone or calling a toll-free number. The system detects the reporting vehicle\’s location via the phone\’s GPS or Wi-fi capabilities. Users can choose the specific type of trap they would like to receive alerts for, and they can also rate the accuracy of the warning to discourage pranks and false flooding of the system.

Pete Tenereillo, the developer of Trapster, insists that the simplicity of pressing \”pound-1\” to submit the threat to Trapster\’s database complies with laws prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving. He continued to explain that police officials have yet to complain about the service and speculates that they might actually approve, since the availability of speed-trap warnings is likely to cause drivers to slow down.

Trapster is available for 10 different platforms, which includes phones with Microsoft Windows Mobile and RIM\’s Blackberry devices.

What this means to you: Trapster offers an alternative to radar detectors. —
Mike Lysaght, Correspondent