Court says police can use GPS to track anyone

[jackschmittusa]

link

However, I was moved to virtual paralysis when I learned that an appeals court in Wisconsin decided that police can stick a GPS-tracking device on anyone they want without getting a search warrant. Even if that person is not suspected of anything more than living, breathing and expectorating.

Which means that any information gained by sticking a secret GPS-tracking device on someone's car will only yield information that could have been gleaned through normal visual surveillance.

I believe they should be required to demonstrate a compelling interest in tracking anyone i.e. presenting cause to obtain a warrant. This is especially true since it becomes a virtually no cost surveillance system where they could theoretically track hundreds of people without having to justify manpower costs.

Would it be legal to track someone who drives outside of the jurisdiction of the tracking officials?

Can the tracking information be made public at a whim?

Is the converse true? Can I put tracking devices on police cars so I know where speed traps are? After all, no harm, no foul, right.

If I ever find one on one of my cars, I think I will move it to the Mayor's wife's car. Then the cops can tell the Mayor that I'm at his house all of the time.

 

[Cuda1447]

The only way this could affect me is if I were speeding and the GPS tracked that. Otherwise, what will the find out? OMG Noes, he's at the soccer field! I agree they shouldn't be allowed to do it, but at the same time, why would they want to do it?

 

[ebaycj]

Why then not just put the GPS device on the back of all license plates, they could track everyone then... Imagine how easy law enforcement would be !

 

[heyheybooboo]

What an excellent idea !

Why stop at GPS tracking without warrant? Think of the money we could save with GPS tracking combined with national security letters, evidence collection by satellite, secret court and jury review, summary judgment, if necessary and execution of sentence by Predator.

 

[RightIsWrong]

Maybe they could just implant some tracking device into us at birth so that they wouldn't have to worry about someone not being tracked? And what if someone would move into their jurisdiction from somewhere else and they weren't already implanted? Think of the crime spree that could ensue!!

This judge needs smacked upside the head with the constitution.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
Maybe they could just implant some tracking device into us at birth so that they wouldn't have to worry about someone not being tracked? And what if someone would move into their jurisdiction from somewhere else and they weren't already implanted? Think of the crime spree that could ensue!!

This judge needs smacked upside the head with the constitution.

But if it saves one life it will be worth it.

 

[RightIsWrong]

Originally posted by: Hayabusa Rider

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong
Maybe they could just implant some tracking device into us at birth so that they wouldn't have to worry about someone not being tracked? And what if someone would move into their jurisdiction from somewhere else and they weren't already implanted? Think of the crime spree that could ensue!!

This judge needs smacked upside the head with the constitution.

But if it saves one life it will be worth it.

That's sarcasm, right? I sure as shit hope so or I'm throwing this brand of meter off the friggen' roof.

 

[MadRat]

Where do the insatiable needs of law enforcement end and the right to privacy begin? I thought police constantly monitoring a person that was not suspected of committing or formally charged with a crime was called harassment. Ironically the character in this case was accused of harassing another individual. So perhaps in some asinine way the cops stalking his movement was a touch of fair play.

 

[Vic]

Not to condone this obvious invasion of privacy, but we all saw how effective GPS trackers were earlier this in Vancouver, WA when a convicted pedophile raped and murdered a 13 year-old girl while wearing his GPS ankle bracelet.

 

[bamacre]

If you aren't doing anything wrong, then what's the problem?

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: bamacre
If you aren't doing anything wrong, then what's the problem?

if im not doing anything wrong then why do they need to worry about where im going?

 

[Andrew1990]

Originally posted by: bamacre
If you aren't doing anything wrong, then what's the problem?

What if the government is doing something very wrong? Lets say the government is creating concentration camps(This is to the extreme here, please bear with me).

Now lets say John Doe wants to organize a resistance against this horrible crime, well John Doe wont exist as soon as the government gets a hint of his intentions.



Now this wasnt the best example but I hope you get my point.


Oh, and I blame Bush for this!

 

[DealMonkey]

Just like naval vessels offer the rights of U.S. sovereignty when deployed abroad, so too do our cars for ordinary citizens, which are personal property and not subject to the whims of the state. This judge needs a banana rammed up his tailpipe (at minimum) and perhaps a severe beating to boot.

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: bamacre
If you aren't doing anything wrong, then what's the problem?

Man, if I haven't heard a billion stupid people utter this "reasoning" . . .

 

[waggy]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Just like naval vessels offer the rights of U.S. sovereignty when deployed abroad, so too do our cars for ordinary citizens, which are personal property and not subject to the whims of the state. This judge needs a banana rammed up his tailpipe (at minimum) and perhaps a severe beating to boot.

only good part is i suspect that this will get knocked down (eventually).

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: DealMonkey

Originally posted by: bamacre
If you aren't doing anything wrong, then what's the problem?

Man, if I haven't heard a billion stupid people utter this "reasoning" . . .

A few people here need a new sarcasm meter.

 

[DealMonkey]

Originally posted by: bamacre

Originally posted by: DealMonkey

Originally posted by: bamacre
If you aren't doing anything wrong, then what's the problem?

Man, if I haven't heard a billion stupid people utter this "reasoning" . . .

A few people here need a new sarcasm meter.

D'oh. Apologies!

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: waggy

Originally posted by: bamacre
If you aren't doing anything wrong, then what's the problem?

if im not doing anything wrong then why do they need to worry about where im going?

Government needs to keep track of its property.

 

[palehorse]

All Your Movements Are Belong To Us.

 

[marincounty]

I think everyone, left, right or libertarian can agree this is BS. I would love to put one on a cop car, but AFAIK it is illegal to put anything on a police car, at least locally.

Maybe they can track my car as I drive it directly into the police station.

 

[MadRat]

Originally posted by: Vic
Not to condone this obvious invasion of privacy, but we all saw how effective GPS trackers were earlier this in Vancouver, WA when a convicted pedophile raped and murdered a 13 year-old girl while wearing his GPS ankle bracelet.

The guy in this case looks like he was up to no good. Perhaps this wasn't a bad ruling by the court when you realize how seriously deranged is the man in question. Sometimes people jump on overly broadly reported material because it sounds like something it is not. This may be a case where the cops are actually doing something right. This case was the cops stalking a stalker.