If law enforcement wanted to attatch a GPS device to your car

[cthulu2016]

If law enforcement wanted to attatch a special GPS device on your car (without your knowledge) so they could track wherever you drove would they need a warrant to do that?

Curious about people's sense of this question.

[Vincardog]

1. They court says so

[rocktivity]

14. The court says you have no expectation of privacy when you park in the street

So you'd only safe if you keep your car in a private garage that's part of your home.


rocktivity

[handmade34]

2. on news last night...

NO...

[Scuba]

3. All they would learn is that I seldom go anywhere, but I'm going to Lambeau Field on the 15th. n/t

[abelenkpe]

13. :) nt

[uponit7771]

4. Yes, the car isn't public property

[hobbit709]

5. If I found it, it might not end up where they left it.

[DJ13]

6. Attach it to a city bus

That would drive them crazy!

[hobbit709]

11. Or better yet, some police or other government agency vehicle.

[ThoughtCriminal]

25. Cargo Container

Let them wonder why my car is on the Pacific Ocean.

[teddy51]

8. I would use a 10 pound sledge hammer on it and then send it back to them. n/t

[Lex]

7. When you drive your car around, you are generally in the public

and could be tailed by a police car . . . is this just a more efficient way to do that?

(By the way, I'm against LE being able to do it.)

[cthulu2016]

15. Your point gets to the heart of it

A court just ruled that you have no reasonable expectation of privacy as to where your car is -- essentially equating this to law enforcement simply observing where someone goes.

The court made an error, in my view, but it is hard to frame the counter argument.

The fact of physically putting any device on private property without a warrant strikes me as a serious problem, but again, it is hard to frame the counter.

Let's say the police want to make you easier to spot in a crowd, so a cop sticks a day-glo sticker to the back of your coat.

Can a cop stick a GPS device on your coat to track your movements outside the home? A person can be tailed as much as a car.

[Lex]

24. I don't think they should be allowed to physically alter your stuff

such as tag your car (or you) with a GPS or day-glo tape or anything else for the purpose of monitoring you unless they have a warrant.

[petronius]

22. That's their argument. Since the car owner then is doing the work of a police officer

by transporting the GPS, perhaps one of the victims of this should try sending a bill to the PD for hours worked...

[leveymg]

9. The NSA already does the same thing with my cell phone and laptop, and more.

"We don't need no stinkin' FISA warrants" for blanket surveillance and data-mining after the 2008 FISA revision was passed (with Sen. Obama voting "Aye!&quot .

So do Google, and Amazon and Blackberry, and a lot more. Now, "Progressive Insurance" wants to get in on the act.

Barack meet Flo, Flo meet Barack. With "progressives" like these, who needs reactionaries?

[MineralMan]

10. I'd remove it and sell it on Craig's List.

It ought to bring a few bucks within a couple of hours.

[JDPriestly]

33. Perfect for a jealous husband or wife!

[abelenkpe]

12. Government tracking your car?

Does this mean you're not going to sign up for snapshot?

http://www.progressive.com/auto/snapshot-how-it-works.aspx

At least it's not the government...they only want to save you money!

[Ian David]

17. I'd rather just drive around with Flo all day. n/t

[Ian David]

16. I want to know if I am allowed to put a tracking device on a police car. n/t

[leveymg]

18. You're not even allowed to video them in some states.

[iscooterliberally]

19. They should need a warrant to do that to a private vehicle with a GPS device.

I know they can physically tail you without a warrant, but they should not be able to put anything on your private vehicle. To me this is like bugging your house. Yes, you have no expectation of privacy when you are out in public, but the car itself is your private property and law enforcement should not be able to modify it in any way. If law enforcement thinks that your movements are so important that they think they need a GPS device, then they ought to use man power and just freakin' follow you. Otherwise they are waisting our tax dollars with all this big brother crap.

[msongs]

20. so WE can put a gps on an FBI car now? wow great news! nt

[Marrah_G]

21. No they do not- scary isn't it?

They can also search your house when you aren't there and never tell you that they were there.

[comipinko]

23. not if they put it on while your at the mall!!!!!!

[closeupready]

26. Doesn't matter. If they did, then they'd just track your cell phone.

Rather than go to the trouble of getting a warrant.

[tech3149]

30. Boy am I lucky! haven't used a cell phone since I quit working. n/t

[Javaman]

27. What the law says and what reality dictates these days seem to be

at polar opposites.

In a real US Constitutional world, no they can't.

[Solly Mack]

28. The SCOTUS decision (US v Jones) is coming this year.

US v Jones
2012

People will want to right click and open in new window/tab - links can take you away from DU page.

I think a warrant should be required. Judges have disagreed.

We'll see.

[tech3149]

29. I've contemplated this at length since they revoked my DL

The revocation is BS based on a one-time medical event. I\'m not willing to spend the $10K dollars to fight it. I live in a rural area and can get most of what I need on-line or driving a few miles on rural roads.
First, if they wanted to place a GPS tracker on a vehicle I use, it would only be possible to attempt it on private property. I would not let that happen.
Second, the likelyhood of that technology being used against me is slim to none. Months can go by without seeing any state police in my area. Even if I didn\'t see them, if they were on my property a neighbor would ask me what they wanted. First clue to check for a device.
Third, most local and state LEO\'s are already stretched too thin. The technology and deployment may be less expensive than manpower via shoe leather but I\'m a pretty low priority target.
Fourth, while not entirely legal there are GPS jammers that are only effective within a few feet. Enough range to be effective to block a tracker on the vehicle without affecting others.

If I thought I was a target of such tracking, I would have one in my pocket at all times.

edit to add: I would not under any circumstances destroy the device but I would consider putting it on another vehicle or mounting it where it would never move.

[Lex]

34. But a detective doesn't physically attach something electronic on your person or

to your stuff (car) like a GPS. He follows and watches what he can is all.

[BreweryYardRat]

32. They'd damn well better have a warrant.

That is absolutely unacceptable without a warrant. If I found such a device, it would be promptly be disengaged and placed on the underside of an 18-wheeler -- preferably one from Canada or Mexico -- or mailed to Abu Dhabi.

[hunter]

35. My car's been sneeking off without a driver to have sex with some sleezy Prius.

Can I get law enforcement to put a GPS on it?

Fuck no.

If my car was selling medicinal pot or listening to Arabic language CD's I'll bet they'd be all over it.