Rocky Mountain Tracking

By Greg Bartlett

Dogs get lost constantly. Some dogs are escape artists, digging or climbing their way to freedom, or perhaps even figuring out how to work the latch. Others are just powerful enough to break the fence or pull along whatever they were fastened to that was supposed to keep them there. Some might be overly enthusiastic while hiking, hunting, or camping and get too far away from their owners. Some dogs may even get scared by noises or visitors and run off in fear.

Pet Tracking Collar

Hikers and hunters, who take their dogs out into the woods and other remote areas, may have particular trouble losing their dogs, but even in a city your dog may become lost. For instance, a lawyer’s two Malamutes were tied to a picnic table behind a six-foot fence. Nevertheless, they got out, pulling the table with them. Jack Russell terrier and Beagle owners report that their dogs often dig their way out or find some small hole to escape from the fenced yard. So sometimes all the precautions you may take – a fence and leash, for instance – may not be enough. Your dog may still get lost.

Naturally you want your pet back. Sometimes this is hard to achieve, especially when your dog may have been picked up by someone else who noticed your pet running loose. Thankfully, technology now allows pet owners to monitor their dogs with a GPS tracking device in their dog’s collar.

A GPS tracking device can let owners know where their dog is at all times, and can notify the owner should the dog leave a predetermined boundary, say, your back yard. It can notify the owner about the dog’s speed, which would indicate if it’s on its own or if it’s in a car, which may occur if the dog is stolen. The GPS tracking device will provide the owner with constant monitoring of the dog’s activities and can even provide directions to the dog’s location. With an LED light in the device which can be turned on with a text message, finding the dog in the dark is also possible.

Finding out where your dog has gone if it gets lost is important to you. With a GPS tracking device, you can have peace of mind knowing that whether your dog is an escape artist, strong enough to break through the fence, or gets too excited chasing a squirrel, you can find your dog again.

By Greg Bartlett

Divorce rates in the United States indicate that nearly fifty percent of first marriages will end in divorce. While some of these divorces are due to incompatibility or other personal reasons, some involve more sinister circumstances such as abuse. Whatever the case, many parents find themselves in the midst of a nasty custody battle in which they are truly concerned for the safety of their children. In these instances, access to the children may be strictly denied to the offending spouse.

Child Safety is #1

But what if the offender refuses to comply with a restraining order? What if a working mom must allow her children to be home alone from after school until she gets home at 5:00? GPS tracking can ensure that the children are where they are supposed to be and that they have not been abducted—a possibility which, sadly, is all too common.

A GPS transmitter can be concealed inside a watch or clipped to a waistband so that it is not readily noticeable. While cell phones can also be used for tracking, a criminal might know to look for and discard a cell phone. A smaller, more easily overlooked device may be best in such situations. Some GPS tracking models have a battery life of twenty-four hours while others can continue transmitting data for up to two weeks before needing to be recharged. Individual circumstances will determine which is the best choice for any given family.

GPS tracking transmitters will send signals to a computer or other receiving device, pinpointing the child’s location within a few feet at any given time. In this way, concerned parents can know for sure whether the child is with an abusive parent, or whether he stayed late at school that day. In the event of an abduction the GPS device can also provide such information as speed and direction of travel and number and duration of stops made. This information could prove invaluable should a police investigation be required. Children should be instructed not to remove the GPS device for any reason when away from home.

Emotions tend to run high and anger to spark quickly during difficult divorce situations, but in the end it is the safety of the children that is of primary importance. GPS tracking can provide parents with peace of mind and an extra pair of eyes so that they can know their children are safe at any given time.

By Greg Bartlett

That’s right, your teenager just turned old enough to get his driver’s license, and he’s excited. Really excited. However, that’s not exactly your emotion. Sure, you’re glad your kid has reached the next stage of his life and now he can be a little more independent. Yeah, it’ll be nice not to have to drive him to school, band practice, soccer games, and everywhere else he wants or needs to go. But still, you have to wonder – will he be safe?

It’s a valid concern. Automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers, who typically have higher crash rates and higher death rates in crashes than other drivers, totaling approximately 5,000 teenage deaths each year and about 400,000 serious injuries to teens each year. One study suggests that teenage drivers are about four times more likely than other drivers to have an accident. And the first year of driving is the most dangerous.

While you don’t want your teenager to be one of the death or injury statistics, you also want to allow him some freedom. Obviously you can’t ride with him everywhere he goes, even if you wanted to. But you can still find out where he is and what he’s doing with GPS tracking.

GPS tracking allows parents to find out where their teenager is, how fast the car is going, and to notice any erratic or unsafe driving. Since speeding is often a cause of accidents and teenagers are likely to speed, parents can set up the GPS tracking system to notify them with an email, text message, or phone call if the car exceeds a certain limit.

Parents can also be alerted if the car is being driven during unauthorized hours or goes outside of predetermined areas.

Many GPS vehicle tracking systems also allow parents to lock the car’s doors, honk the horn, flash the headlights, and even turn off the car – all from a distance. Parents can keep a close watch on their teenage driver’s activities without having to be in the car with him or her and, as long as the teenager is driving carefully, without disrupting the teenager’s life.

You can be excited, too, now that your teenager is ready to drive, and you don’t have to worry about his safety if you have a GPS tracking device installed. It will help you monitor your teen and ensure that the car is being driven safely and responsibly.

By Harriette Halepis

The main duty of a parole officer is to keep an eye on a newly released criminal. This is done through visit, follow-up phone calls, family communication, and other similar methods. Regular parole officers are assigned around 100 cases, and “intensive” parole officers are assigned around 40 cases.

There’s no clouding the fact that parole officers are overworked. There simply aren’t enough parole officers in the world to cover the number of criminals that require constant monitoring. Not only is the task of checking in on hundreds of criminals weekly impossible, it is also a public safety risk.

With the help of GPS tracking devices, parole officers can keep an electronic eye on all offenders at all times. In addition to regular meetings and phone calls, GPS trackers would provide another way for parole officers to stay in-touch with criminals.

While combining GPS trackers with parole officers has not been implemented yet, it is an idea that is bound to be tested very soon. There’s no cutting back on the number of criminals that are released into society, but technology has found a way to ensure that those criminals are constantly supervised.

The average parolee must meet with their parole contact at least once per week –sometimes, once per month. During the rest of the week, parole officers make every attempt to know the whereabouts of their case assignments. Still, this is not always possible given time constraints and an abundance of case files.

The time that parolees spend not meeting with their parole officers can easily be spent doing other things—including criminal activities. Thus, the sheer lack of control over parolees can lead to an unstable community.

GPS technology is poised to assist parole officers with the difficult task of following parolees. The devices are accurate, they exist, and they have been proven affective time and again. Rather than assign parole officers more cases, doesn’t it make more sense to use GPS tracking technology?

Nothing can replace human insight and instinct when it comes to following parolees, but the addition of technology will certainly help to make streets safer. In fact, technology exists in order to better our world, so why not take advantage of it? GPS tracking devices can assist parole officers with their duties, which means that a lot less criminals will be able to get away with crime when parole officers aren’t looking.

By Greg Bartlett

During the hot summer months only the most dedicated of runners commit to continue distance running outdoors. Possibilities of heat stroke, dehydration and sun poisoning increase as the temperature rises and runners should take precautions to keep from succumbing to the dangers of exertion in hot weather. Drinking lots of water, running in the early morning or late evening, and wearing light colored clothing and hats all contribute to safety on the running trail, but have you considered making a GPS tracking device part of your running safety routine as well?

GPS tracking devices come in many forms, but the most practical for runners might be the GPS watch. The device transmits location signals to your home computer and allows you to keep track of where you have been and how much distance you have covered. In addition, a family member can keep an eye on your whereabouts so that if you are gone longer than expected, they can check up on you. In cases of heat stroke or fainting, this knowledge could be lifesaving. As an added benefit, some GPS watches have built in heart rate monitors that allow you to gauge your fitness levels and calculate your progress over time.

Most runners are independent spirits who enjoy being out alone for long periods of time. While these distance running excursions can be exhilarating for you, they can be worrisome for a clock-watching spouse, especially if you do not arrive home when expected. If you are wearing your GPS tracking device watch, your spouse can quickly check your location in real time and be reassured of your safety. Some models also feature an alarm button that you can press if you need help. The device will send an alert letting someone know that you need assistance.

GPS tracking devices may seem like an expensive toy for individual use, but in reality they have lifesaving potential. You can’t predict what might happen that is beyond your control when you’re out alone exercising. In addition to heat exhaustion or other physical injury, you may encounter a thief looking for an easy target or an unfriendly dog that can overpower you. Your safety and the peace of mind provided to your spouse or family members far outweigh the initial cost of equipping yourself with a GPS watch. Running should be an enjoyable activity that keeps you fit both mentally and physically. Your investment in a GPS watch will ensure that it remains just that.

By Harriette Halepis

Using GPS tracking systems to track criminals has been widespread lately. Various states have adopted policies that include the tracking of criminals, while other states are not too quick to implement GPS tracking technology.

While it seems as though the types of criminals that are forced to wear tracking devices varies from area to area, sex offenders and domestic abusers are generally pinpointed. This selectivity has caused a great deal of public anger. Further, it has prompted many different people to point towards other types of offenders that should be tracked in lieu of sex offenders and domestic violence offenders.

The question is: who should be tracked? What kind of criminal should be followed for the rest of their life, while other criminals are left undisturbed? Is the sex offender or domestic abuser any less of a threat to society than someone that has been convicted of drug smuggling or murder?

What about the accusations that tracking criminals via GPS is against human rights? Some might argue that convicted criminals lost their right to basic human rights when they violated the rights of their victims. Others may state that all humans living in a society have the right to basic necessities (food, water, shelter), but what about the right to be reintegrated into society without being tracked regularly?

Then there’s the practical side of the human rights debate – it’s just not possible to track every single criminal on the face of the planet. Even if it were possible, who would pay for all of that tracking technology?

Some states are now requiring criminals to pay for their own tracking devices (about $8 per day). Other states are setting up entire police tracking teams that exist solely to track criminals all day (and night) long.
These are some possibilities, but until a concrete solution to these tracking problems can be found, the logical thing to do is narrow down the list of criminals by selecting who should, and shouldn’t be tracked. How does a state or government go about creating such a list?

Perhaps our society should simply put into practice that age-old Exodus saying: “an eye for an eye.” Murderers might be best served by being murdered, and sex offenders may be punished by experiencing their own crimes – then again, “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” (Mahatma Ghandi).

Or, maybe we could resort to Ancient Greek and Roman standards by exiling criminals to distant locations. Execution seemed to work just fine for Henry VIII (who didn’t discriminate between murderers, gypsies, or petty thieves). Even our present society keeps “track” of criminals through the usage of parole officers and “check-ins.”

In the end, selecting the types of criminals that should be tracked via GPS is a near impossibility. While all criminals cannot be tracked, those that can be tracked should be. Why? Our society does not stone people to death, we do not take an “eye for an eye,” and we do not mutilate criminals.

Instead, we simply slap a GPS tracking device on those that pose the biggest threat to our society. In the end, the GPS tracking solution seems to be the easiest — and most humane — way of keeping an eye on criminals that has ever been invented.

By Greg Bartlett

As GPS tracking systems become more popular, they will also become more affordable. Each year there are several new GPS trackers on the market, for both passive and real time tracking. Companies competing with each other to sell the most tracking devices will drive the price down and make these systems easier on the wallet.

However, it is also possible to buy a refurbished GPS tracker, which will save you even more cash. Refurbished GPS tracking systems are available online at a wide range of prices. This allows you to either save money on the device that you were looking for, or get even more features for the price of the new unit that you were thinking of buying.

Refurbished GPS tracking systems are not necessarily even used systems. These tracking devices were sent back to the manufacturer for one problem and can be resold after they are fixed. These devices are even better than purchasing a used system, because they probably received even less wear before a defective part was discovered and it was sent back to the manufacturer.

Saving money on a GPS tracking device is always a good idea, but a refurbished tracker is a great way to do that because it will work just as good as a new tracker. Used GPS tracking systems could have many parts that are showing wear and could soon break, but a refurbished device only had one defect and that has been fixed. Most likely the system was not used very much at all and it is practically new, not just new to you.

Reputable online stores like Amazon.com are a better choice to find refurbished GPS tracking systems than pawn shops and other small retail stores. These kinds of sites can be trusted with your credit card information and they also allow you to make returns. Buying a GPS tracker through a reputable site will guarantee that you will be satisfied with the transaction as well as your newly refurbished GPS.

In a time when people are trying to save money and trim their budget whenever they can, it could be easy to think that a GPS tracking device is out of your price range. However, buying a refurbished tracker could make buying a system much more affordable. Take a look online and you just may be able to find a great deal on a practically new GPS tracker that will allow you to benefit from GPS technology without hurting your budget.

By Greg Bartlett

If you’re like most pet owners, you probably harbor a secret fear of your pet escaping and becoming lost or injured. Signs that read “Reward for Lost Dog” bring a sinking feeling. After all, if it could happen to someone else’s beloved pet, it could happen to yours too. Although you’ve taken numerous precautions to keep your pet safe, you always wonder if there might be something more you could do. GPS tracking devices give you an extra edge for your pet’s protection. They are the something more that could mean the difference between finding and not finding your dog if he runs away or gets lost.

GPS tracking devices for pets are available as a harness that your pet wears like a backpack or as a collar mounted system. The transmitter sends a signal to your computer that lets you know the location of your pet at any time. Most models allow you to set boundaries for your pet as well which if crossed will trigger an alert to be sent to you. If you plan to travel out of the area and take your pet with you, you can set up a new set of boundaries once you reach your destination, ensuring that Fido is safe on vacation as well.

In addition to helping locate lost pets, GPS tracking devices also prove useful in the event that your dog is stolen. Pet theft is on the rise, especially for purebreds and small, easily concealed dogs which can quickly be resold at a profit. While it’s true that a thief could remove the GPS unit from your pet’s collar, many aren’t aware that these units are available for pets and therefore don’t think of taking this precaution. More often than not, the GPS transmitter will aid you in recovering your furry companion in the event that he is stolen.

Dog owners seem to have an instant common bond with one another. No one but another dog owner can understand the special relationship you have with your four-footed companion or the anxiety that you suffer when you’re worried about his safety. A GPS tracking device for your pet gives you peace of mind that you’ll never have a “Reward for Lost Dog” sign posted with your dog’s picture on it, since you’ll be able to instantly locate him at any time. It’s the best gift you could give to show your love for Fido.

by James Neely - freelance writer for hire

If you are a business person who is in charge of physical assets, then you know the massive job it becomes in properly managing these assets. Now, add to that the difficult economic conditions and you will quickly see that help is needed. With employee ranks trimmed to the bare minimum, you need all of the tools that you can get.

That is why a GPS Tracking device should be added to each and every asset that has the potential to cost a lot of money should it be stolen. If these assets reside out-of-doors, that is even more of a reason to obtain these units.
Here are some specific ways that you can benefit from having these units:

Recovery efforts. With thefts increasing daily, it is imperative to protect assets. And, should they become stolen, being able to track them will help get them back to you quickly so that you do not cripple your business operations. Law enforcement agencies are beset with cases and just another one added to the pile is not encouraging. But, being able to provide instantaneous data to authorities on the location of stolen assets gets their attention. They would much rather solve a case instantly over having it sit for days / weeks / months / years with little or no hope of solving the case. Being able to locate your asset quickly means that you will be back in business quickly as well.

Insurance satisfaction. You can often realize a reduction in premiums by obtaining and installing a GPS Tracking device. Insurance companies realize the value in lessening their risk. So, they are opened to lower premiums overall.
You can also use these systems to verify business activities. Were you where you were supposed to be with the asset? Does the customer have a dispute with you over contractual compliance? You can obtain information to support your claims from one of these GPS Tracking devices.

What better addition to your business? You can not only protect your assets, but help improve your profits at the same time. The more you investigate the benefits of GPS Tracking devices, the more you will be convinced that you need them in your daily operations. Just a few hundred dollars now can make the difference between making a profit or taking a loss. Peace of mind is possible when you implement these GPS Tracking devices in your business. You will wonder why it took you so long to get it done.

By Greg Bartlett

Last week, one of our friends was the victim of a domestic violence incident. Her husband was arrested, but she is fearful that he will be released on bail or, after his sentence, on probation or parole. She has a good reason to be concerned – many domestic violence offenders come back to injure or even kill the victim.

Protecting victims and the community often demands that offenders of certain crimes, such as domestic violence, robbery, sex offenses, and larceny, be kept away from the victims and out of the community. Victims don’t want to see the offender come back to injure them again, and the community doesn’t want the offender to harm its inhabitants and steal cars, electronics, and other possessions.

But on the other hand, some offenders could be released on bail, probation, or parole, thus decreasing the prison population and saving taxpayers money, and also allowing the offender to return to work or find work to help pay child support or other expenses or fines that the victim needs.

Thankfully, there is a way to release some prisoners while still protecting the victim and community. GPS monitoring allows police to watch released offenders in real time, keeping track of every move and noticing any wrong behavior.

For instance, GPS monitoring will notify police by text message, phone call, or email when an offender goes outside a predetermined area or enters a forbidden area. An offender may be restricted to just his house and work, for instance, while forbidden to go to his ex-wife’s house. If he visits her anyway, police will be notified immediately and the victim can often be alerted, too, thus allowing her to take necessary precautions.

Furthermore, because GPS monitoring tracks offenders constantly, it will allow police to see if a released offender is in the area when a crime is committed. So if a car thief is released on probation and police see that the thief was in a particular neighborhood when a car was stolen, they can investigate further to see if the car thief really was responsible. On the other hand, the monitoring also allows police to rule out a released offender if the GPS data shows that he or she was in another location entirely from the crime area.

Protecting individuals is important to law enforcement officials, but releasing certain offenders under GPS monitoring allows police to permit the offender’s freedom while still ensuring the safety of the victims and community.