The not-so-big secret about Waze that police in Ontario want you to know

Many drivers use Waze in Ontario for help with directions and to get to their destination as soon as possible.

The popular app also warns drivers of traffic, hazards, closures, crashes and even police up ahead.

While it may not exactly be legal for drivers to touch their phones and provide updates to Waze while driving (you can read more about that here), many do so anyways.

Drivers who report the location of police may think they’re helping others avoid getting pulled over if they’re speeding by seemingly exposing where the officers are.

And those who get notifications of police up ahead might think they’re being clever by slowing down before they reach the officers.

But, as it turns out, many times police in Ontario actually report themselves on Waze.

“A lot of people think they’re sneaky because they know the cops are up ahead,” Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told INsauga.com.

“I know some officers will actually tag themselves as police when they’re doing a traffic stop, just so people know that they’re there. A lot of people will tag us anyway, but we will also tag ourselves.”

Schmidt said that encourages drivers to slow down.

“Then they can expect to see us there,” he said.

The OPP previously said on social media that they “love Waze too.”

“By marking us on the map, it ensures that at least for the duration of enforcement, drivers will slow down,” a post on X said. 

“We strive to keep motorists safe by regulating speeds on the highway. If you use Waze, please mark us on the map. It could save a life.”

But police don’t always want you reporting where they are.

When it comes to RIDE locations, for instance, police don’t want those broadcast publicly.

In one instance, Durham Regional Police said that after they set up a RIDE checkpoint, it was reported to Waze “in excess of 100 times.”

“Sharing RIDE locations could have devastating consequences,” they said.

“Keeping our roadways safe is a shared responsibility.”

So, if you use Waze and provide real-time updates, consider when and where you report the location of police.

Police love Waze too! By marking us on the map, it ensures that at least for the duration of enforcement, drivers will slow down. We strive to keep motorists safe by regulating speeds on the highway. If you use Waze, please mark us on the map, it could save a life.^jb pic.twitter.com/5nuzffl6c1

— OPP West Region (@OPP_WR) March 14, 2024

Not long after setting up the RIDE line it was reported to Waze in excess of 100 times. Sharing RIDE locations could have devastating consequences. Keeping our roadways safe is a shared responsibility. #drpsride23 pic.twitter.com/l1wqTwrmxi

— Durham Regional Police (@DRPS) November 24, 2023