Supreme Court: Police Need Warrant For GPS Tracking

[matefrio]

The Supreme Court has just ruled that police need a warrant if they want to place a tracking device on a suspect's vehicle. The court's decision was unanimous.

[url]http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/01/23/145641693/supreme-court-rules-police-need-warrant-for-gps-tracking?sc=fb&cc=fp


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[M. Sage]

Damn straight they do.

 

[matefrio]

Well, that wasn't the popular assumption by agencies till.....now. There were a bunch of GPS trackers out there without warrants set out by agencies.

 

[Texan2]

This should have been pretty easy to see coming. A good decision by the court. But it does make the LE mission harder as most organized criminals will change vehicles several times a day in many cases.
That having been said I am glad this was their conclusion.

 

[robocop10mm]

Does not affect Texas at all. We already had a warrant requirement here.

 

[matefrio]

Does not affect Texas at all. We already had a warrant requirement here.

Federal level they didn't think they needed one.

 

[Acera]

This part is pretty big also,

... The justices ruled that the authorities must obtain search warrants to employ thermal-imaging devices to detect indoor marijuana-growing operations, saying the imaging devices carry the potential to 'shrink the realm of guaranteed privacy,'"

Small victory, but on the right track.

 

[Mikewood]

Does it mean they can't do it and here will be criminal penalties if they do or just that if they do it that it constitutes an illegal search and anything found as a result can't be used in court but there is no penalty?

 

[Charlie]

Just a related question. Does law enforcement (federal or otherwise) need a warrant to seach a cell phone history, etc?

 

[TheDan]

Does it mean they can't do it and here will be criminal penalties if they do or just that if they do it that it constitutes an illegal search and anything found as a result can't be used in court but there is no penalty?

The latter... Maybe you can sue them for civil rights violations, but that's unlikely.

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

... The justices ruled that the authorities must obtain search warrants to employ thermal-imaging devices to detect indoor marijuana-growing operations, saying the imaging devices carry the potential to 'shrink the realm of guaranteed privacy,'"

Cops ...Come and try ta' snatch my crops. Shiznit. Get up outta here with your thermal-imaging, foo.


I don't get what the big deal is to the agencies. If a suspect is a serious enough threat then expend the man power to follow them properly, or get a damn warrant for the GPS. If they're not worth the resources then let it go. I'm glad this was unanimous.

 

[M. Sage]

I have to admit, I'm almost sad about this decision. I had all kinds of fun ways cooked up to get rid of a GPS tracker if I found one on my car.

One of my favorites involved catching a live deer...

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

I have to admit, I'm almost sad about this decision. I had all kinds of fun ways cooked up to get rid of a GPS tracker if I found one on my car.

One of my favorites involved catching a live deer...

Don't worry. I'm sure they can get a warrant just for you

 

[M. Sage]

Don't worry. I'm sure they can get a warrant just for you

Eh. I could see 'em putting me on the super double-secret probation list, but getting a warrant for me? Nah.

Besides, if they have a warrant, I could actually get in trouble for messing with the GPS. Without a warrant? Bring it.

Some other fun ideas: Attach the tracker to a rail car. Go to Houston, drop it onto a container ship as it leaves the channel. Put it on a cop car (ROFL).

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

Get in trouble?

Anything left on MY property is fair game.

 

[Bithabus]

Get in trouble?

Anything left on MY property is fair game.

+1 On my vehicle, I own it.

 

[robocop10mm]

Section 16.06 of Texas Penal Code. Class A misdemeanor to install a tracking device on a vehicle w/o the consent of the owner or w/o a court order. THis section applies to LEO's. We cannot install a tracker w/o proper authorization. Not just inadmissable evidence, it is a criminal offense.

 

[SC-Texas]

They got it right.

 

[Bithabus]

Section 16.06 of Texas Penal Code. Class A misdemeanor to install a tracking device on a vehicle w/o the consent of the owner or w/o a court order. THis section applies to LEO's. We cannot install a tracker w/o proper authorization. Not just inadmissable evidence, it is a criminal offense.

Does not apply to LEOs. But good to hear it wasn't being done in Texas.

 

[Rangerscott]

I wish I could find that blog where this young dude had a gps tracker on his car and he found it.