The New York City Police Department has asked Google to disable a feature in its popular Waze app that alerts drivers of DWI checkpoints and other police activity.
According to Streetsblog NYC, the NYPD sent a letter to the tech giant over the weekend.
Google bought Waze in 2013, and the GPS app provides real-time directions. It also allows users to alert other drivers of police roadblocks, speed cameras, and DWI checkpoints. The latter two features were recently rolled out, and now the NYPD is pushing back.
"The NYPD has become aware that the Waze Mobile application … currently permits the public to report DWI checkpoints throughout New York City and map these locations," the letter reads. "Accordingly, we demand that Google LLC, upon receipt of this letter, immediately remove this function from the Waze application."
The department went on to say that publicly revealing the location of DWI checkpoints can be considered against the law.
"The NYPD will pursue all legal remedies to prevent the continued posting of this irresponsible and dangerous information," the letter reads.
The NYPD has taken several steps in recent years to help combat crime, including the implementation of a drone fleet.
Waze came under fire in 2017 when it was reported that the app was directing drivers into the California wildfires.
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