Welcome to our September edition of Trapster Moderator Spotlights. These spotlights give you an insight into the lives of our moderators and all their hard work and dedication to Trapster. In their own words you will learn a little about our army of volunteers and why they LOVE Trapster so much that they spend hours upon hours of their free time graciously helping us.

Our two spolighted moderators have been given an array of questions to get their juices flowing but have free reign to tell their story. So let’s get started!

Moderator Damonz28

Our frst Trapster moderator I’d like to spotlight is Damonz28 or known in Wisconsin as Damon. Damon just joined our Trapster mdoerator team this past August. Let’s give him a big warm welcome!

1. Why did you became a moderator?
The primary reason I became a moderator was because there were some traps in my area that were incorrectly reported, that had expired, or simply didn’t exist. There was one interstate trap that didn’t exist, and that needed to be changed. There is one police car that monitors oncoming traffic from an overpass, then relays information to 5-7 chase cars that are hiding on the on-ramp. This is a major operation which happens at least once per month. The other reason I became a moderator is to answer questions for others so they can get the most out of Trapster. I’ve had to figure out some things on my own (although I could have asked at getsatisfaction.com, I suppose), and I get a good deal of satisfaction out of helping others. And lastly, I want to make sure that all “Live Police” are reported, and I’ll make sure to whip out my phone to report, if Trapster isn’t already running!

2. How do you help Trapster?
I like to make sure that traps are accurately placed (such as directly in a cross-over on the interstate), and that the traps actually exists. I report Live Police whenever I see them monitoring traffic. I’ve even had the pleasure of helping a couple people who have PM’ed me directly from the TrapMap. I’m fairly new so I have much to learn myself, but am always glad to help others.

3. What has been your favorite moderating experience?
Helping others on Getsatisfaction.com. I’ve noticed some frustrated new users asking questions, and if they didn’t get their questions answered quickly, I don’t think they would ever use the software again. I’ve been able to quickly help these people by answering their questions, and I’m glad I’ve been able to help someone, make their new experience a good one, and make sure they continue to use the software. Someday they’ll even help others!

4. What devices do you use Trapster on?
I use Trapster on my Blackberry while travelling, and moderate on the TrapMap when at home. As I mentioned before, I make sure traps are accurate, report new traps, and report live police. I’ve marked school zones in my area, as well as making sure that the reported school zones and other traps in my state are accurate by using satellite & street views.

5. Do you have any great driving stories you can share with our users?
On Sunday during Labor day weekend I was travelling home. I was exceeding the speed limit, although not too much because I knew that police patrol would be heavy. I was in the left lane, coming up on a very slow-moving car in the right lane. Suddenly, the car moved over in front of me. I resisted the urge to run up on his tail and blast the horn, and instead just calmy moved around him. Not more than 1/4 mile ahead, there was an officer in the median, facing my direction. He never even turned on his radar, because I had to slow down for the other vehicle. I don’t think that other car saw the patrol car because he was pretty well hidden, but was actually glad that he had cut me off and made me slow down!

Another of my favorite police story also took place many years ago in southwestern Michigan. I was headed over to Wisconsin on another one of my trips. I was passed by a small group of cars travelling pretty fast (I won’t say how fast – but certainly much faster than I’d ever drive now! I was young & foolish then). I decided to cut down my trip time, and joined them. After travelling with them for a ways, a Michigan State Patrol car passed going the other direction. I don’t remember if he even turned on his radar, but I didn’t see him turn around so we kept going. After about 10-15 miles, we were approaching some construction and were getting ready to slow down. Suddenly, out of nowhere, this patrol car came roaring up behind us. Yikes! I held my breath until he tore past me at the last second before his lane merged into mine – and he pulled over a white Mustang that had been travelling with us. I don’t imagine that officer was too happy to have to drive that fast and that far to catch us!

6. Tell us about you!
My name is Damon, and I’ll soon be 40 years old. I have used radar detectors since I was old enough to drive, and can often sniff out patrol cars in their hiding places. I only have ever received a couple speeding tickets (gotten a few warnings too), despite owning a dark red 1994 Camaro Z28. Trapster is a great new tool to prevent tickets and other issues! Now when I travel, I’m running a Bel 945 radar detector, Navigon 2100 gps, and Trapster on my Blackberry Curve. My wife uses her Sansa media player, charges her phone, and sometimes even uses her 17″ laptop. And my son plays his Nintendo DS. We often run out of charging ports

I live in south central Wisconsin, in Janesville, and am a traffic coordinator for Blackhawk Logistics. I have owned a 1994 Camaro Z28 since 1995, and have had a lot of fun with the car. Twice a year, I run an all-day cruise for fellow Camaro and Firebird owners (spring and fall). The cruises are over 200 miles of curvy, scenic roads in rural Illinois and Wisconsin. Unfortunately, my car is down right now (probably a head gasket or cracked head) so I haven’t been able to drive on the last couple of cruises. See http://www.fallcruise.org for more information on these cruises.

7. Do you have any tips for our Trapster users?
Please, please, please – report live police! I haven’t been using Trapster very long, but I’ve seen a live police reported in my travels. I’ve always been the one to report them.

I also have discovered some Blackberry shortcuts that have been very helpful for me. The numbers 1-9 are shortcuts for reporting traps. Number 1 is to report live police. Use it whenever you see one!

Moderator Mulkeyman

The second moderator I’d like to introduce to you lives in Kansas City, Missouri. His real name is Josh but at Trapster we know him as Mulkeyman.

1. Why did you became a moderator?
I wanted to become more active, be able to help out and take care of my travel areas.

2. How do you help Trapster?
As often as I can I try and monitor what’s been reported and needs to be. Take care of old traps. I’ve been working 60+ hrs a week lately, but I’m doing what I can.

3. When do you use Trapster the most?
Mostly going to and from work or on trips. Live police in KCMO is very important to stay on top of.

4. Do you have any great Trapster stories you can share with our users?
Well, one night I was coming home from classes at our union hall. Started to report a live trap. Guess what, I got nailed. 75 in a 60. But he let me off with a seat belt ticket. $10.00 bucks. Woohoo!!!

5. Tell us about yourself?
I’m a Union Electrician in the Kansas city area. Local 124. Divorced about two years ago. Starting over and moving up. I’m now with a woman I’ve known 27 of my 32 years. Things are great!

6. Do you have any tips for our Trapster users?
I would say work with people in your area. Help each other.

How to Become a Trapster Moderator

Thank you Damonz28 & Mulkeyman for sharing your Trapster knowledge and bits about yourself! I know our users apprecaited it too.

Wondering how you can become a Trapster moderator? Just fill out our Moderator Request Form.

Plus for the next two months Trapster is running a moderator contest. This months winner will receive the new 8GB iPod Touch!

The contest focuses on helping Trapster users, moderating trap data to make it accurate and up-to-date, and of course, reporting and voting on traps in your area.

Each month we will announce next months prize and the previous months winner. We have some AWESOME prizes in store for our Trapster moderators!

Being a moderator is a very important and sometimes timely job. We hold all our moderators to a superior level of service and support with the expectation they will always do what’s best for Trapster and its user without abuse.

In case you’re wondering, here are few things we look for when adding someone to our Trapster moderator team:

* Accurate traps being reported / voted via mobile and Trapmap.
* Actively using Trapster’s Trapmap, Get Satisfaction (helping users, not reporting problems), blog, facebook, and / or twitter.

Trapster is approaching 8 million users and growing everyday. We are very excited and think you would have fun being part of our growing online community.

If you’re interested in becoming a Trapster Moderator please fill out the Moderator Request Form.

All request are answered within 48 hours. Make sure to check your SPAM folders if you don’t see a response.