compiled by Rich Wang

In New Jersey, a town called Leonia has taken steps against travel apps by placing certain barriers and obstacles in the way. As a response to apps like Waze and Apple Maps that reroute some of the tens of thousands of vehicles headed to the George Washington Bridge each morning, Leonia on Monday started barring the use of side streets to non-residents during the morning and evening commutes. Violators could face $200 fines. Additionally, it has decided to fine drivers who are using travel apps and ban travel app usage in the area, along with blocking anyone who attempts to drive through the city while using travel apps.

The town said its police officers would start fining the commuters $200 if they drive through sixty of its streets between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 9 p.m. Beginning on January 22, NJ.com reported officials would give the community’s residents a yellow tag to leave in their car, letting officers know they live in the town. Those without a yellow tag would be subjected to the fine. The town implemented the measure after traffic got much worse due to navigation apps such as Waze and Google Maps leading highway drivers to the city streets as a shortcut. The town is located about a mile away from the George Washington Bridge, which leads into New York City.

Tom Rowe, the city’s police chief, said as many as 15,000 cars travel through the town every day. The population of the community is about 9,200 with 18 police officers. “It’s a very extreme measure for very extreme traffic,” Rowe told The New York Times. “Would I prefer not to do this? Of course. But I would rather try something and fail than not try anything.” The three exits off a major highway and the proximity to the bridge, which connects Fort Lee, New Jersey, and New York City, put the town “in a unique situation here,” he said. “We are a small town in a very busy area with a very small police force.”

Leonia is not the first town to have congestion problems due to navigation apps. Los Gatos and Fremont in California both had traffic issues due to the apps, CBS San Francisco reported.