By Benjamin Raziel
Over the last decade, mobile apps have completely changed so many aspects of daily life – from paying for dinner, to searching for a soulmate, to boarding an airplane.
Now, this sea change is coming to an interaction most Americans do not look forward to: the traffic stop.
The West Hollywood Sheriff’s Department last week launched a new partnership with an app, SafeStop, designed to enhance communication between motorists and police officers during traffic stops. The mobile app lets motorists initiate video contact with police officers after they have been pulled over but before an officer approaches their vehicle. The app is also integrated into the officer’s phone, allowing them to respond and engage with drivers from a distance.
“This new program is an innovative new tool for our deputies to use in appropriate situations during traffic stops,” said Captain William Moulder of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station.
SafeStop was created by engineers Tyler Hochman and Jackson Lallas, who said that the pilot program will run for the next few months.
“As smartphones have become extensions of nearly every aspect of our daily lives, it only makes sense that this technology should be used to modernize the way we interact with police officers,” Lallas said. “Just like FaceTiming a friend, SafeStop is intuitive and easy to use. This is especially critical in tense or uncomfortable moments, like being pulled over by a police officer.”
By shifting the first point of contact between the motorist and police officers to the digital space, SafeStop’s creators say it will help deescalate tense situations and facilitate smoother interactions between motorists and police officers on America’s roads.
This app is not just about convenience. It also enhances safety for both motorists and officers. By utilizing video calls, officers can better assess the situation and determine if any potential threats exist before approaching the vehicle. This can reduce the potential for a routine traffic stop to escalate into a dangerous situation. The app also provides real-time, detailed instructions to the motorist on what to expect when interacting with the officer.
“This is only the beginning of finding creative solutions to improve how traffic stops work,” said Hochman, SafeStop’s co-creator.
He and Lallas met at Stanford University as engineering students and were heavily influenced by Silicon Valley. But rather than piling into more trendy areas of the tech space, the duo said they wanted to use their software engineering skills in a way that would benefit a different, and potentially more socially significant, issue.
“Instead of developing another food delivery or ride service app, we wanted to leverage similar technology for a bigger purpose – something that creates positive change in our communities,” Hochman said.
Other tech solutions have been implemented by police departments across the country. In 2021, a company called Truleo launched a system that provides analysis of body camera footage and allows for more precise, streamlined reviews of police-citizen interactions. It has led to a 90% reduction in time spent on reviewing footage, according to its website.
Another app that can help drivers in fraught situations, Turn Signl, connects motorists who have been pulled over with an instant attorney, available 24 hours a day. Launched in 2021, Turn Signl is similar to SafeStop in that it uses video conferencing to deescalate traffic stops.
Hochman and Lallas are hoping their app will gain traction directly with police officers, who also stand to benefit from engaging motorists from a safe distance. Their partnership with the West Hollywood Sheriff could portend future collaborations in California and eventually other states.
“Bottom line, we want to help police and communities come together,” Lallas said.
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