WalterVictor.com - Articles

The GPS tracking system is a marvelous invention. People are finding more and more uses for this state of the art technology. It is saving money and, arguably, lives. Used by individuals, small businesses, huge companies, and fleet owners, GPS tracking devices have also been employed by law enforcement agents to track the whereabouts of suspects, although the legality of the latter has been fought in court.

While it has been argued that such use by law enforcement agencies is a violation of the 4th amendment prohibiting unlawful search and seizure, that argument has been struck down in court. At least one judge has argued that attaching a GPS device to the vehicle of someone they have reason to suspect is engaged in criminal is tantamount to following the suspect. No warrant is needed.

According to one lawyer whose area of interest is cyber crime, as long as the tracking device is installed on a "public" part of the vehicle, such as on the bumper or wheel well, there is no violation of the 4th amendment. GPS tracking and its uses by the police continue to be a questionable subject, however.

What is not debatable is the benefit derived by business owners who use GPS devices to keep an eye on their drivers. Speed can be monitored so safety increases. Stop time is reported and headings are recorded. Therefore, drivers waste less time; overtime is cut; more stops are made daily; and fleet cars assigned to employees are not used for personal trips. GPS tracking records are also useful tools in billing verification! Needless to say, the devices are very useful in tracking stolen vehicles. In fact, some states now require insurance companies offer a reduction to customers whose vehicles have tracking devices.

Vehicles bearing real time GPS tracking devices can be located from any computer or other device capable of accessing the internet. The uses of these devices are numerous. Whether you are in business, law enforcement, or even the parent of a teen with a brand new driver's license, the benefits are quickly apparent.

If you are looking for GPS tracking and its uses by the police, be sure to research a premiere GPS provider.