GPS Device: Stopping Crime
Fabian Toulouse
For the curious, a GPS device uses the Global Positioning System to track the whereabouts of any object to which it is attached. The technology is not that recent; a variation of the system has been used since the early 1980s, however state of the art GPS devices and the internet allow for real time and tracking and the collection of a host of useful data.
On a personal level, GPS devices on cars are a wise tool to have, and insurance companies in some states are legally bound to offer discounts on cars and trucks with GPS devices, as they are powerful anti-theft weapons. Also, cautious parents of new drivers like to know their children's whereabouts. The devices not only track location, but they can be set to warn parents if the vehicle exceeds a safe speed limit or goes outside of a preset boundary!
For many of the same reasons, a GPS device is a great thing to have on a fleet vehicle. It saves gasoline and overtime wages, increases safety, and stops unauthorized use of fleet vehicles for personal use on nights and weekends. In addition, the data recorded is invaluable in handling billing questions!
The police have found GPS tracking handy, too. Courts have ruled in favor of police in cases where the legality of surreptitious tracking is employed. Defendants stress that the devices violate 4th amendments rights prohibiting unlawful search and seizure. Judges have responded that the devices in no way "seize" the vehicles on which they are attached. Police do not need a search warrant to follow the activities of someone suspected of unlawful behavior. According to the courts, the use of a GPS on the "public" parts of a suspect's vehicle is the equivalent of tracking a suspect the old-fashioned way.
GPS tracking is a cool tool with dozens of applications. Whether you are a business owner trying to cut down on overtime and vehicle abuse, a parent worried about a teenage driver, or a policeman wanting to catch a criminal, GPS can help.
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