PHP Get lat, long from address

index.php

// ------------------------------------------
// converts a string with a stret address
// into a couple of lat, long coordinates.
// ------------------------------------------
public function getLatLong($address){
    if (!is_string($address))die("All Addresses must be passed as a string");
    $_url = sprintf('http://maps.google.com/maps?output=js&q=%s',rawurlencode($address));
    $_result = false;
    if($_result = file_get_contents($_url)) {
        if(strpos($_result,'errortips') > 1 || strpos($_result,'Did you mean:') !== false) return false;
        preg_match('!center:\s*{lat:\s*(-?\d+\.\d+),lng:\s*(-?\d+\.\d+)}!U', $_result, $_match);
        $_coords['lat'] = $_match[1];
        $_coords['long'] = $_match[2];
    }
    return $_coords;
}