John P. Krudy THE WASHINGTON TIMES

For Washington-area motorists who live in fear of the flash from a speed camera and the costly ticket that will surely follow, there is hope.

Joe Scott has an answer to their nervous prayers.

The 39-year-old D.C. resident has invented a GPS application that alerts motorists to speed traps and red-light cameras. He is marketing his PhantomAlert software as a way to help motorists avoid becoming entangled in the rapidly expanding web of traffic-enforcement cameras.

"Michigan Avenue at Trinity, or the I-395 tunnel — that camera is vicious," Mr. Scott said.

By Dan Morse, Staff Writer

 Steven Forage, a software salesman who spends at least five hours a day in his car, juggles a lot on the road: finalizing deals over the phone, sipping coffee, checking e-mail. One thing he no longer worries about, though, is speed cameras.

"Fuzz alert," an electronic voice called out from the console of his Cadillac recently as it approached a speed enforcement camera in Montgomery County.

At 300 feet, another warning: "Ding, ding. Ding, ding. Fuzz alert."

Database paired with GPS system beeps at drivers when they approach speed traps, red-light cameras

Adrian Morrow

N.B. Photo radar has not been used in Ontario since 1995.

As a finishing carpenter with jobs across the GTA, Gabor Sarvary uses a GPS system to help him navigate from his west-end home to work sites in Brampton, Markham and Hamilton.

Now, he's also using the device to avoid getting tickets for speeding or running a red light. 

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -- A lot of drivers rely on their GPS systems to get around, but how about to get them out of a speeding ticket? A program that drivers can download onto their car GPS promises to help them do just that.

"Anybody who has a GPS device needs to download our Phantom Alert database and they can avoid costly traffic tickets. And thousands and thousands of people have downloaded it and hopefully we're making them a safe and alert driver," said Joe Scott, president of Phantomalert.com.

If you've ever been caught in a speed trap, DUI checkpoint or by a red light camera, you know tickets are costly. And fighting them can be even more expensive. The best way to avoid them is not to get one in the first place.

Scott said about a year ago they figured out a way drivers can pay and download a program on their Garmin or Tom-Tom GPS.

SEATTLE – Designers of a controversial new software say it can help you find red light and speed cameras, and even DUI checkpoints.

In Washington, drivers can get a $124 ticket if caught by a red light camera. Driver Darrel Miles is not a fan.

“Because if you go through a yellow light when it just turns yellow, it gets your picture. Not even red yet and you get a ticket for it,” said Miles.

Enter Phantom Alert, the software you download into your GPS that claims to help you avoid those cameras.

NO CAM DO: For $10 a month, drivers with GPS systems can download a database alerting them to red-light cams (left) and DWI checkpoints.

"The system gives you enough time to correct any dopey thing you're about to do," said Brooklyn subway conductor John Carlson, 49, who bought the software from Pennsylvania-based PhantomAlert last year, and said it "absolutely" has helped him avoid tickets.

There are a range of options, including one that tells drivers an upcoming intersection is armed with cameras. (NBC News)

From NBC News:

As more red light cameras pop up, so does new technology that can help drivers avoid getting a ticket.

Gary Laing is selling the new red light warning systems.

BEAVERTON, Ore. - If you drive in Beaverton, watch out for those red-light cameras.

The city started using them in 2001. Since then, Portland also started installing them at key intersections.

But Beaverton has stayed ahead of the curve by installing newer, higher-resolution cameras that let police get a close look at drivers' faces. That makes it harder for them to argue that it wasn't them who was behind the wheel. The newer cameras also make it easier to spot other features of the vehicle.