The simplicity of Twitter is part of what inspired the version of Zapatag that’s finally being built, so of course I wanted Zapatag to interact with Twitter in some way. If all goes as planned, you’ll be able to zap a tag via Twitter. Provided you’re following @zapatag on Twitter, and include your own Twitter username in your Zapatag user profile, you’ll be able to submit reports via Twitter (and therefore by SMS as well).
Just post a tweet beginning with “@zapatag” followed by a space, the two-letter state abbreviation, a colon, and the license plate number. Anything that follows the next space is the text of your zap. It sounds a bit more complicated than it is, but the format includes spaces and colons so Zapatag can parse the different parts of your Twitter post. For example, this tweet:
@zapatag HI:ABC123 Illegal left turn on Keeaumoku Street.
Will zap the Hawaii license plate ABC123 with “Illegal left turn on Keeaumoku Street.”
Of course, zapping tags by Twitter will mean you won’t be able to include every detail you can specify at the Zapatag site, such as car or driver descriptions, map points, or emoticons. But sometimes you’ll want to quickly post a Zap via Twitter’s mobile interface or via SMS, and this is a great way to do that. Please don’t zap tags while driving, however. You’re liable to get zapped yourself, or worse!
Eventually, I’d like you to be able to receive tweets posted in your area… but that requires more map and math magic than I’ve got right now!
this is what this site needed. Since you usually aren’t in front of your laptop when some idiot cuts you off.
It’s a great feature – if there’s a way to link to a twitpic URL, that would also rule!
What a complete waste of time. Zapatag is nothing more than one-sided hate mongering. Ryan, you used to spread aloha with your wonderful HawaiiUp podcast. I am saddened Zapatag is apparently a more rewarding way for you to spend your precious few free moments on this Earth.
Aloha, “Mr. Aloha”! If you don’t like the site, we certainly understand if you don’t use it. It’s meant more in fun than hate, and with the more fundamental objective of making people more aware of bad behavior on our roadways. We moderate abusive posts as best we can, but as with any site that relies on “user generated content,” surely there’ll be some things that you might find objectionable.
Zapatag is merely a side project of mine, and one of many. Too many, probably. Still podcasting, too, in close partnership with my wife. License plate complaint side notwithstanding, I still spread aloha as best I can, as no doubt you’re committed to doing as well.
Mahalo for your feedback!