Police: Waze app wrongfully directs Atlantic City-bound drivers into wilderness

Police in Jackson Township are warning drivers that the Waze navigation and traffic app may misdirect motorists heading to Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa into the wilderness of New Jersey’s Pinelands.

News 12 Staff

Jan 21, 2020, 12:38 PM

Updated 1,558 days ago

Share:

Police in Jackson Township are warning drivers that the Waze navigation and traffic app may misdirect motorists heading to Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa into the wilderness of New Jersey’s Pinelands.
The mistake came from an ad within the app that contained a map with wrong information.
“We actually, in the last five days, towed about 10 cars out of here,” says Jackson Township Police Lt. Christopher Parise. “One of our officers who also did a report on their app, as far as if there was a problem with a location, and received some back yesterday that indicated that there were about 250 other reported cases as far as that the location was improper.”
Tow truck operator Carl Hobson says that errant GPS routes have incorrectly sent many drivers into the woods for as long as GPS systems have been around.
“’I was following my GPS.’ That’s what most of the people say … and I say, ‘Why do you keep going? Why didn’t you turn around?’ But they don’t, they keep going,” Hobson says.
The incorrect directions brought some would-be Atlantic City tourists to Colliers Mills Wildlife Refuge instead. It is typically dark without any streetlights. And drivers can often get stuck in the dirt road.
“Apps are great tools … but if you’re looking for a major city overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and the sign on the app tells you to turn down a dirt road into the woods, something may be wrong,” says Parise.
Parise says that Waze is working on a fix and has already removed the ad.
And for anyone wondering, the correct way to Atlantic City is to take the Garden State Parkway or Atlantic City Expressway.


More from News 12
1:46
Hero doctor earns Heart Saver Award for saving soccer referee

Hero doctor earns Heart Saver Award for saving soccer referee

1:53
Scattered rain overnight on Long Island; sunny skies Sunday afternoon

Scattered rain overnight on Long Island; sunny skies Sunday afternoon

0:56
Islip Terrace fundraiser to benefit EMT on life support

Islip Terrace fundraiser to benefit EMT on life support

1:37
Manorville search related to Gilgo Beach case continues for fifth day

Manorville search related to Gilgo Beach case continues for fifth day

1:54
Arbor Day Festival at Planting Fields Arboretum marks 38th year

Arbor Day Festival at Planting Fields Arboretum marks 38th year

2:02
'Gains For Brains' girls lacrosse tournament raises awareness, funds for pediatric brain cancer research

'Gains For Brains' girls lacrosse tournament raises awareness, funds for pediatric brain cancer research

Mathew Barzal scores in 2nd OT as Islanders beat Hurricanes 3-2 to avoid series sweep

Mathew Barzal scores in 2nd OT as Islanders beat Hurricanes 3-2 to avoid series sweep

0:33
Delta plane lands at JFK due to emergency slide falling off

Delta plane lands at JFK due to emergency slide falling off

2:28
Doctors are seeing an increase in pickleball-related injuries. Here how to avoid them

Doctors are seeing an increase in pickleball-related injuries. Here how to avoid them

1:56
DEC: Delay in test results on soil, drums found at Bethpage park caused by technical issues at Grumman lab

DEC: Delay in test results on soil, drums found at Bethpage park caused by technical issues at Grumman lab

0:26
Officials: Bag of cocaine found during search of Melville restaurant

Officials: Bag of cocaine found during search of Melville restaurant

1:53
Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

Shop Mother’s Day Gifts – Exclusive Offers Up to 75% OFF!

1:50
Selden man accused of abandoning dogs in state park

Selden man accused of abandoning dogs in state park

1:33
Disabled Army vet in Kings Park get new backyard with help from volunteers

Disabled Army vet in Kings Park get new backyard with help from volunteers

1:20
Police return to Manorville to continue search in connection to Gilgo Beach case

Police return to Manorville to continue search in connection to Gilgo Beach case

1:56
EXCLUSIVE: Police, K-9 search in North Sea at location of cold case murder

EXCLUSIVE: Police, K-9 search in North Sea at location of cold case murder

0:22
Suffolk County given $5M from federal gov't for construction of new bridge to Fire Island

Suffolk County given $5M from federal gov't for construction of new bridge to Fire Island

0:29
Halal food truck coming to Nassau Community College amid dining issues

Halal food truck coming to Nassau Community College amid dining issues

1:00
The East End: McCall Wines in Cutchogue

The East End: McCall Wines in Cutchogue

1:45
Long Island's largest car show returns to Tobay Beach this weekend

Long Island's largest car show returns to Tobay Beach this weekend