In an effort to “curb some of these unjust and unnecessary instances” of black people being pulled over by police, Mbye Njie developed the mobile app “Legal Equalizer” to “educate the masses and help them in getting more clarity on the laws.”
“It seems like every day there is a new circumstance of law enforcement and citizen encounters that are ending terribly,” he told NBCBLK. “Seeing what I see all the time, the features of the app are more practical; the video is important.”
The “Legal Equalizer” app works in three steps. First users must press the “SOS” button, which notifies three contacts of your choosing and informs them of your location when you are stopped by police. The app also records your interaction with the police and stores the data on a remote server. The app also informs users of their legal rights.
Since launching last month, the app has had between 5,000-10,000 downloads.
Nije says “A lot of thought went into the development of the app.” However, the earlier reviews have been drab.
“Good idea but if I am pulled over tomorrow, I am screwed trying to use the app,” said one reviewer. Another complained about issues adding contacts.
No matter the success of “Legal Equalizer,” Nije admits that people have a “responsibility” to obey the police during traffic stops. “I appreciate that part of it too. Don’t get me wrong, I can talk all day about how police incorrectly go about policing,” he said. We “also have a responsibility.”