GPS tracking device / black box installed in company car?

[Red]

My fiancee's father called me yesterday and asked me if I knew about GPS tracking devices installed in cars that also record when the car is turned on / off and obviously where the car is located.

He said about two months ago, his company said there was a "recall" on all of the company cars (probably about 50 Dodge Intrepids). They sent out a memo this week and said the recall was actually some time for them to install GPS tracking devices in the cars that can track the location of the vehicles at all times and records when/where the vehicle is started and turned off.

Management said they aren't playing "big brother" but they want to make sure everyone is doing a full days work, since they aren't in the office much.

Anyone know about these devices and know how to disable them? He really isn't worried about it, because he is actually a part of management himself and isn't subject to the monitoring, but wants to know if I could somehow figure out how to disable it in case one of this employees tries to pull something. I took his dash apart yesterday, and sure enough, behind the metal plate in the steering column / lower dash, there is a little gadget with a green "connection" light that is lit up, even when the car is off. I told him someone might be able to cut the power wire and re-connect it when they get home or back to work or whatever. Who knows though, he wants me to see what I can look up about the device this weekend. Thanks!

 

[bunker]

Why not just ask the company that installed them?

 

[Arkitech]

A coworker and I were just talking about this yesterday. I think depending on if the GPS unit is visible it can be disabled using one of those plastic bags that PC componets are stored in. They seem to be able to shield radio waves, but then again I don't know if that would work with GPS frequencies.

 

[Red]

Originally posted by: Arkitech
A coworker and I were just talking about this yesterday. I think depending on if the GPS unit is visible it can be disabled using one of those plastic bags that PC componets are stored in. They seem to be able to shield radio waves, but then again I don't know if that would work with GPS frequencies.

Hmm, might try that. I wonder if the green connection light would turn yellow or start blinking or something if I put one of those bags around it... hmm.

 

[NutBucket]

There's gotta be an external antenna somwhere. Just disconnect it. There's no way the GPS will work without an antenna that has a clear path to the sky.

 

[Queasy]

If a GPS device is disabled, wouldn't that trigger some kind of flag on the employee that is in possession of that vehicle.

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: RedManagement said they aren't playing "big brother" but they want to make sure everyone is doing a full days work, since they aren't in the office much.

how else would they define "playing big brother"?

 

[Vette73]

well if its a GM car/truck and has onstar (even if you don;t pay for it) it hsa GPA built in.

There was a Rental place that would give tickets to you if you were speeding and they could tell by the onboard GPS unit.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Queasy
If a GPS device is disabled, wouldn't that trigger some kind of flag on the employee that is in possession of that vehicle.

Another good point.

 

[bmacd]

Originally posted by: bunker
Why not just ask the company that installed them?

best advice right here. The whole thread sounds like a sham to me.

-=bmacd=-

 

[Red]

It's a Dodge, so no OnStar. I looked for a *visible* GPS antenna but I didn't see anything. It was dark (thats why we are going to play around today or tomorrow with it, in the light). I'm thinking it may be more a cell phone type of device that doesn't need a GPS type of skyview antenna... because this thing was planted in the middle of the steering column, in the middle of a bunch of wires/metal casing, in the middle of the country (fiancees family lives on nice country land about 25 miles south of Cincinnati, OH on the kentucky side) and the thing had a bright green connection.

I'll look around for an antenna and see where it plugs in, but like you mention, I'm already starting to think any strange activity (power / antennae strength) would trigger something. Like I mentioned, he doesn't care because he is a regional director for the company, but the whole ordeal has had him aggrivated (how they said it was a "recall" and then how they said they weren't playing big brother).

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Queasy
If a GPS device is disabled, wouldn't that trigger some kind of flag on the employee that is in possession of that vehicle.

It sure should.

These devices will also measure speed!

 

[Queasy]

No offense to your fiancee's father but the car is the property of the company to which he is employed. They have every right to take necessary steps to ensure that their property is used in a manner that does not reflect poorly on them or is abused and the value of that property lost. If your fiancee's father is worried then he should drive a vehicle that he owns when is taking care of personal matters.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Yossarian

Originally posted by: RedManagement said they aren't playing "big brother" but they want to make sure everyone is doing a full days work, since they aren't in the office much.

how else would they define "playing big brother"?

It depends on if it's actively monitored or not. I collect lots of data at my company, but I don't sit here all day digging through it to find out that Mary from Accounting is Ebaying on company time. If management asks me to find evidence, then I go to the records.

Although if your father-in-law-to-be isn't worried about getting busted, I don't see why he's so concerned about tampering with the device, which would likely be enough to get him fired, even if he isn't up to anything otherwise.

 

[NogginBoink]

Don't be too surprised if he gets fired for tampering with it.

I know if I were in management, if I found my employees disabling something like this, I'd fire 'em on the spot.

 

[Red]

Originally posted by: NogginBoink
Don't be too surprised if he gets fired for tampering with it.

I know if I were in management, if I found my employees disabling something like this, I'd fire 'em on the spot.

*shakes head*. I'm not going to explain it again why he doesn't care.

He has been with the company (family owned business) since it's inception (spelling?), at least 20 years, and just wants to mess around the device to see how it works and if it can be turned on / off.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: Red

Originally posted by: NogginBoink
Don't be too surprised if he gets fired for tampering with it.

I know if I were in management, if I found my employees disabling something like this, I'd fire 'em on the spot.

*shakes head*. I'm not going to explain it again why he doesn't care.

He has been with the company (family owned business) since it's inception (spelling?), at least 20 years, and just wants to mess around the device to see how it works and if it can be turned on / off.

He's either an idiot or a liar. If he is so high on the totem pole why doesn't he just ask the vendor or whoever is managing the system how they can detect if the devices have been disabled or tampered with?

Sorry, it doesn't add up.

 

[captains]

cut wire.......install toggle switch.........of course i have no idea what i'm talkin about but it sounds good......Company, we are having a problem tracking u. You, i must be in a bad area hold on, turn on toggle switch, i just got outta of trees, mnts what ever is that better. Company, oh there u are.

 

[Descartes]

Can you get some specs on the unit? Just because they have a unit installed doesn't mean they are actively monitoring it. It's quite possible that they only collect the data when within range of a receiver, and that usually occurs at the company's fleet parking lot. It just depends on the unit installed.

 

[brianmanahan]

how else would they define "playing big brother"?

holy crap i forgot all about yossarian