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by James Neely - freelance writer

GPS tracking has become a part of our society that many people rely on daily to aid them in their jobs. In particular, police officers are recognizing the benefits of using GPS technology to help them track the movements of criminal suspects. For only a small monetary investment, departments can add another pair of eyes to their force—a pair of eyes that doesn’t need to sleep or take breaks, but rather can be on the job 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. By attaching a GPS transmitter to a person’s car, police can have an accurate record of that person’s movements including addresses visited and length of time at each stop. Some states even have laws requiring GPS tracking of known sex offenders after their release from prison.

While some have argued that GPS tracking without consent or a warrant violates an individual’s Fourth Amendment right to privacy, supporters of the idea point out that the only information gathered is that which could be noted by any observer in the public sphere. A GPS device might go with a person into his garage, for instance, but any police officer could also observe the suspect’s car entering and leaving the garage, and take note of how long it was there. Opponents argue that attaching a device to someone’s personal property (such as a car) amounts to an inherent privacy violation.

A recent court ruling in Wisconsin agreed with those who support GPS tracking of suspected criminals. Although urging protection against abuse of such technology, the court determined that police are within Constitutional limits when they attach a GPS tracking device to a person’s car in order to monitor movements. Such ability proves useful when investigating stalking charges, violation of restraining orders or probation, or suspected drug related activity.

Without question, public safety can be promoted by means of GPS tracking. As is true with any technology, steps must be taken to prevent misuse or abuse of the new capabilities and police departments should be aware of the potential pitfalls. However, the benefits to law enforcement are innumerable. That extra pair of eyes could mean the difference between rescuing a kidnapped child and arriving at the scene of the crime too late. For police forces who often have too few personnel to follow every suspect, GPS tracking may be a way to conserve man hours and resources, while still accomplishing the primary goal of protecting the citizenry.