Texas police turn to social media to warn drivers

KELLER, TX -- Police in North Texas say the term "speed trap" is becoming a misnomer as they're turning to social media to notify motorists where officers are watching for speeders.

Police in Keller, north of Fort Worth, tell the Fort Worth Star-Telegram they started using Twitter and other social sites earlier this month to post the locations of officers with radar guns. They say the intention is to get motorists to slow down.

Two weeks after starting the routine, Keller police added 1,113 followers on Twitter and 2,187 friends on Facebook.

Dallas police began the practice shortly after Keller.

Meanwhile, two other North Texas departments, Arlington and Fort Worth, don't post daily accountings of speed patrols, but do use social media to inform the public of crime alerts and other matters.