| The use of GPS tracking technology to conduct | | | | showing routes traveled, time in route, at rest, |
| surveillance by law enforcement agencies and | | | | speed and direction. This is a great tool to keep |
| private citizens has been underway for many | | | | track of your newly licensed teen as well as |
| years. Private investigators have used the | | | | making sure that your business vehicles are not |
| technology to discover cheating spouses, misuse | | | | being used for personal use. These GPS trackers |
| of business equipment, insurance fraud, child | | | | are very hard to detect since they are both small |
| custody violations and other location related | | | | and they do not use cell phone communication |
| issues. Many privacy advocates have screamed | | | | technology. Basically there are no records beyond |
| foul about the perceived loss of privacy through | | | | the computers hard drive. Again this makes this |
| the use of this technology. Surveillance activities | | | | type of surveillance very hard to both detect and |
| may or may not be legal depending on the | | | | defend against. The negative side of using a GPS |
| location and type of device. | | | | data logger is that the information is history |
| Recently the 7th Circuit of the US Court of | | | | rather than in real time. |
| Appeals ruled that placing a GPS tracking device | | | | Real time GPS tracking devices use both GPS and |
| on a vehicle was lawful and did not require a | | | | cell phone technology to provide tracking |
| warrant. The federal government argued | | | | information in real time. Tracking information is |
| successfully that placing a device on a vehicle | | | | updated at designated time intervals to a |
| does not violate the 4th Amendment and is not | | | | company that provides the tracking service. As a |
| an unreasonable search of the vehicle. The vehicle | | | | subscriber you will log into the companies data |
| was not entered and thus was not searched. It | | | | base and your tracking information will be |
| means that all that is needed for a law | | | | downloaded to your computer. Recently the GPS |
| enforcement or government agency to place a | | | | tracking devices have become much smaller |
| GPS tracking device on a vehicle is reasonable | | | | making it much easier to hide in either a vehicle, |
| probable cause. However when it comes to a | | | | piece of equipment or on a person. While it is illegal |
| private citizens placing a GPS tracking device on a | | | | for cell phone companies to provide information |
| vehicle or an individual it is a much more complex | | | | including tracking information about a customer |
| issue. Many States have passed laws that restrict | | | | without a warrant the Federal Communications |
| the use of this technology to conduct surveillance | | | | Act apparently does not apply to GPS tracking |
| unless the device is used on a vehicle owned by | | | | providers. The bottom line is that if you use a real |
| the person conducting the surveillance. It is | | | | time GPS tracking device and provider you risk |
| strongly recommended that you contact the | | | | that the records of your surveillance activities will |
| office of your States Attorney General prior to | | | | be discovered. |
| conducting any GPS tracking of anyone outside | | | | The use of GPS tracking devices for surveillance |
| your immediate family. Failure to do so could lead | | | | has led many states to pass laws to protect the |
| to severe legal consequences. | | | | privacy of their citizens. Most of these laws have |
| New micro technology allows GPS tracking | | | | severe penalties attached to them. It is strongly |
| devices to be hidden in just about any location. | | | | recommended that you do a thorough job of |
| This is especially true for the GPS data loggers. | | | | research prior to conducting any form of |
| These recorders are placed in a vehicle or on a | | | | electronic surveillance. GPS tracking technology is |
| person for a designated period time. The device is | | | | a great tool for managing both people and |
| then retrieved and downloaded in to a computer. | | | | resources when it is legally and properly used. |
| The information then is displayed on a map | | | | |