Within the past two weeks, a company called Phantom Alert has made new technology available for sale in Texas that can help you beat traffic tickets. The devices are based on GPS interfaces and similar devices that alert drivers to the presence of red light cameras, speed cameras, and speed traps. Not only are these GPS red light camera alert systems from Phantom Alert new to Texas, but they have only been available in the United States for the past 3-6 months.
The new GPS technology is aimed at helping drivers avoid getting a ticket and avoiding traffic accidents. Being aware that you’re approaching a red light camera can help avoid getting a ticket because you can slow down and not run the red light. Knowing you’re driving through an area with a speed trap will keep your mind focused on the speed limit.
Anyone who has gotten a ticket due to a red light camera, speed camera, or speed trap knows that the fines can be quite costly. Having a device that gives an audible alert when approaching a red light camera or speed trap can prevent tickets and save you money. I’m not saying we should try to break the law by speeding or running red lights, but having a device that gives a warning when approaching a red light camera, speed camera, or speed trap certainly sounds handy to me!
News correspondent Lindsay Wilcox for local channel NBC5 interviewed Gary Laing, who is the Texas distributor for PhantomAlert, about the new red light warning devices, along with Sergeant Gerald Meadors of the Frisco, Texas police department.
In the news clip, Mr. Laing spoke about how easy it is to be distracted while driving and not be paying attention to signs. He demonstrates how one of company’s newest devices, the Cheetah GPS mirror clip-on, can be a valuable tool for drivers by giving audible alerts to the presence of red light cameras. The alert gives drivers plenty of time to slow down and be prepared to stop at the traffic light, thereby avoiding a potential ticket. The alert can also help avoid accidents because drivers are prepared to stop and don’t have to slam on their brakes at the last minute and risk being hit by the car behind them.
In the next segment of the news clip, Sergeant Gerald Meadors of the Frisco, Texas police department said that police officers support the technology because they help avoid traffic accidents by giving drivers a warning about red light cameras so they have plenty of time to stop at the red light.
After watching the NBC5 interview, I hopped on the web and went to the company website at http://www.phantomalert.com. After surfing around for a bit, I still had questions and sent off a quick email using their “contact us” form. Within about 10 minutes I had an email reply from Joe Scott, the VP of Marketing. He included his phone number in the email so I gave him a call. I told him I was writing an article for Associated Content and would like to interview him. He agreed and also gave me permission to quote him in my article and to use images from the company website. Here is what Mr. Scott had to say.
PhantomAlert is built on the concept of drivers helping drivers and is based on a google map platform. Their website is set up so that drivers from all over the US and Canada can log on and report the location of red light camera, speed cameras, and speed traps. This information goes into a database, which already has over 17,000 different locations throughout the US and Canada. The database grows daily as people report more locations. There is a section on the website where you can see how many new locations have been added, when they were added, and what part of the country the reports are coming from. Drivers can also go in and rate each location for accuracy, so the database is constantly being updated.
The red light warning systems come with a variety of options, and prices range from $25 to $500. The company has options for drivers who already have GPS systems, and for those who don’t.
For those who already have GPS systems such as Garmin, TomTom, or Magellan, all they have to do is sign up for service and download PhantomAlert’s database directly to their existing GPS system. Customers can choose from several different plans. There is a 3 month service contract for $9.00, a full year of service for $24.00, or a lifetime contract for $99.00. No matter which plan you choose, you get unlimited database updates for the entire term of your contract.
For those who do not have a GPS system, PhantomAlert has several new devices available. One of the newest units is the PhantomAlert GPS, which is a red light camera, speed camera, and speed trap warning system. It comes preloaded with both the US and Canada red light camera, speed camera, and speed trap database. It’s completely road legal in 50 US states and Canada. The cost of the device is $199.99. Another new device recently made available in the US is the previously mentioned Cheetah GPS clip-on mirror. It fits over your already existing mirror and is a speed camera & red-light camera detector. It comes preloaded with both the US and Canada red light camera, speed camera, and speed trap database. The cost is $299.99.
Mr. Scott mentioned that many of the police officers in Washington DC and California buy their systems because they are not immune to the automatic tickets from the red light cameras. He also said that not only are their alert systems popular with the average driver, but they’re also being bought by delivery drivers, taxi drivers, and rental car companies.
Mr. Scott was very helpful and said if anyone needs a custom device, or has questions about PhantomAlert, that he can be reached by phone at 888-207-7040. You can also visit their website at http://www.phantomalert.com and see what else they have to offer.
Note: You should check to be sure these devices are legal in the state(s) you’re planning to use them in.
