Rocky Mountain Tracking

By Harriette Halepis

Over 3 million people are subject to stalking during a one year period (NY Times). Many of these people have filed restraining orders against their stalkers. Many more have discovered that restraining orders are relatively useless when a stalker is persistent.

In fact, “…about one quarter of women who were killed by their domestic abusers already had restraining orders (NY Times).” The vast majority of stalkers have had some kind of personal relationship with their victim in the past. Stalking frequently turns into domestic abuse with women and children becoming moving targets.

GPS tracking technology might be on the brink of changing the constant fear that victims of domestic abuse face on a daily basis. Thirteen states have implemented GPS tracking usage when it comes to domestic violence.

Still, in order to have a violent offender tracked, a judge must decide whether the trackers are to be used before a trial, as a permanent sentence, as part of bail, or at all. While some judges have seen the compelling arguments for GPS tracking, others are not quick to put the technology into action.

Since most judges are not entirely familiar with GPS tracking, they tend to resort to older domestic violence sentences – in short, restraining orders.

Those areas that can afford to track domestic violence offenders have found a clever way to pay for GPS tracking technology. In the state of Massachusetts, domestic violence offenders are charged $8 per day for the tracking bracelets that they are forced to wear – these criminals literally pay for their crimes.

If GPS trackers can save lives – when restraining orders clearly cannot – why is this technology largely disregarded? Aside from the fact that some police forces simply don’t have enough manpower to monitor trackers, those that sit upon the judicial bench must be educated as to the usefulness of GPS tracking.

Commenting on those judges that are still using futile sentencing methods, one Massachusetts judge has made the reluctance to use GPS tracking devices quite clear: “…until they know how GPS can be used and how successful it can be, judges are reluctant to order it because it’s unfamiliar (NY Times).” For the sake of those that are killed by domestic offenders every year – isn’t it about time to familiarize judges with GPS tracking systems?

By Greg Bartlett

Some people like to know where they are, where they’ve been, and where their family members have been. These people may use a GPS tracking unit to monitor their vehicle’s location and find out all the information they want about where their vehicle has been. For most people, a GPS unit is a convenience, but for some, it could be a necessary and life-saving device.

Airplane Safety

In airplanes, knowing exactly where a plane is located is vital for the pilot, Air Traffic Control, and other planes. Radar systems, which are often used to locate planes, only work for a certain distance, and with ocean flights, this can be deadly. Radar only reached about 200 miles off the coastline, so when a pilot flies over the ocean further than that, only the pilot knows where the plane is – presuming that the pilot does know. And oceans aren’t the only danger. Mountainous regions and everyday flying can present some dangers. Knowing an airplane’s exact location, by both the pilot and Air Traffic Control, can increase safety and efficiency.

For instance, if Air Traffic Control knows the pilot’s exact location, it can tell the pilot about upcoming weather alerts, and help to guide the pilot in the event that the plane gets lost. Using a GPS tracking unit, pilots can discover exactly where they are, and should be able to locate other planes and avoid running into them.

Furthermore, if a plane has a GPS tracking unit installed and the plane crashes, either Air Traffic Control or the pilot – or both – will know exactly where the airplane is and can send for help immediately.

The sooner help arrives, the more likely the pilot’s and any passengers’ lives could be saved. Of course, sometimes all of the plane’s occupants may die in a crash, such as a recent incident in Iowa, but because of a GPS unit, they were able to locate the plane quickly to recover the bodies and any information that could be used to avoid future crashes. GPS units are also very helpful if a plane gets lost. One trainee pilot got lost on a solo flight, and the instructors, who were watching the plane via GPS, were able to guide him to safety.

Knowing where a plane is at all times is important to the pilot, any passengers, other planes, and Air Traffic Control, and it is possible to know a plane’s location and increase safety with a GPS tracking unit.

By Harriette Halepis

Memphis, Tennessee, may set the standard for police patrol all across the world. The Memphis police force has announced that it plans to place GPS tracking devices on all criminals out on bail within the very near future.

Criminals in Lauderdale, Tipton, Fayette, and Shelby counties will be monitored around the clock by the Memphis police force’s “Real Time Crime Center.” In addition, criminals in Crittenden County, Arkansas, and Desoto Country, Mississippi, will also be tracked.

The grand tally of criminals that will soon be tracked in real time totals around 2,000. The total cost of implementing this system will be around $2 million. Presently, 300 convicted sex offenders in Tennessee wear GPS tracking systems – these devices have been proven to be of great use to police.

While the tracking of criminals may not prevent crimes, it will certainly provide police with clues when a crime does occur. Often, when crimes occur, police cannot pinpoint suspects right away. However, with the implementation of GPS trackers, police will be able to determine whether or not a criminal was in the area of a crime when it occurred.

This recent GPS tracking decision has many human rights activists up in arms – after all, is it just to assume that a criminal had something to do with a crime simply due to location? Then again, GPS tracking systems are so precise that police can easily tell where a criminal was when a crime was taking place.

For example, it is entirely possible that a criminal may be shopping at a hardware store when a robbery has occurred down the street from the hardware store. But, in this instance, police would have the ability to note that the criminal in question was not actually at the scene of the crime.

Of course, there is a possibility that a criminal could be shopping at that very same hardware store during a robbery, though they had nothing to do with the actual robbery. While this scenario is, indeed, bothersome, it is unlikely that this type of coincidence would occur.

Should criminals be tracked? Is GPS technology making the world a safer place? Is there any reason why criminals out on bail shouldn’t be tracked? While these questions remain unanswered at the moment, those that are curious as to the effectiveness of GPS tracking systems will keep a close eye on the new Tennessee tracking project.

By Greg Bartlett

As unbelievable as it may sound, some people lead double lives. Some men are happily married with children, but they have two different wives. Their wives and children may live in the same state, or across the country in a place that they have to travel to a lot because of work. Sometimes there can be obvious signs leading to this, and sometimes it remains undiscovered for years. However, if you have suspicions that your spouse may be hiding something from you, whether or not it is as serious as another wife, a GPS tracker may help you find out the truth.

Granted, if your husband travels across the country by plane regularly you cannot track his car. But you could slip a GPS tracker into a pocket in his suitcase or get a GPS tracking plane for his cell phone. GPS technology is continually advancing, so there is probably a solution for every circumstance that would come up.

By putting a GPS tracker in your husband’s car or suitcase you can follow him on his travels. If you have a real time tracker, you will be able to tell immediately on a digital map where he is. This will enable you to locate his work location and his hotel as well as any restaurants or bars that he visits. If he calls to tell you that he has arrived safely and is going to check into his hotel, you can track him and see if his location is truly at a hotel or in another location that would point to infidelity.

You may think that tracking your spouse is something that paranoid people do, but many times the signs that your husband is cheating in you are scarce. In these situations, the only way that you will discover the truth is if you track him. It may not be the best thing to do for building up trust in a relationship, but if you have doubts, a GPS tracker can definitely give you answers quickly.

Of course, it is not guaranteed to work. Your husband may be tricky and have his mistress come to the hotel that he is staying at. This would not give you any indication of his infidelity. However, most men are not going to suspect that they are being tracked, so they will usually do something that gives themselves away.

A GPS tracker, whether passive or real time, can help you find out for sure if your spouse is truly faithful, even if he is all the way across the country.

By Greg Bartlett

Your company has a fleet of trucks which you use to transport merchandise across the country. You have people busy at your office, trying to keep track of each vehicle, determine its arrival times at each destination, add destinations where necessary, provide drivers with directions, and a host of other worries. The spreadsheets and databases you’ve been using are getting complicated and provide huge headaches for your staff. So it’s time to change – to what?

Most likely you want something that will accurately track your fleet and do most of your work for you, primarily finding out where all your vehicles are. It would be an even greater benefit if it could also let you know driving times, destinations, and routes. Thankfully, there is such an option available to you.

GPS fleet tracking can provide you and your staff with the exact location of each vehicle in your fleet, and can track their movements, speed, and even monitor the condition of the vehicle. If your staff finds that another stop is necessary to pick up new merchandise, you can locate the nearest driver and send him or her to pick it up.

Furthermore, GPS fleet tracking allows you and the driver to find the most efficient routes, and has often saved companies money because of reduced fuel costs and increased productivity.

Other advantages include notification if the driver deviates from a set route or makes an unauthorized stop. If your driver wastes too much time at lunch or consistently goes over the speed limit, you can find out and correct the driver’s behavior. You and your staff can observe any erratic or dangerous driving and shut the car down from a distance. The remote shut-off is also helpful if the vehicle is stolen or hijacked, and the driver often has a panic button to alert you if such an event occurs, so that you can shut off the vehicle immediately.

GPS fleet tracking will also let you know if your driver is using the car during unauthorized hours, and can reduce operating costs as well as improve response time, which will increase productivity and customer relations. Furthermore, insurance companies often offer lower rates for companies who use GPS tracking on their fleets.

If you want to eliminate a lot of your work and reduce your staff members’ headaches while accurately monitoring your fleet while increasing productivity and efficiency for your company, your best option is GPS fleet tracking.

by James Neely - freelance writer for hire

When government gets too big and unable to monitor and control assets, it’s time for some help. We have surpassed that milestone long ago, but it is never too late to look to systems that can help secure assets and help operations run smoother – even for government entities.

GPS Tracking aids in this process in these important ways:

How does this work? The main function of GPS Tracking devices is to reveal the location of an asset with incredible accuracy. One of the unique things about this is that even though battery power is cut to the unit, it still continues to send out a signal for a time.

Where is the location? Along with software which comes with the units, you can see the device on a map on your own computer screen. The coordinates can then be passed along to local police agencies to aid in recovery efforts.
Models? You can choose a model which supplies near real-time feedback for instant response or one that gives you on-demand only tracking. These functions allow you to select the right GPS Tracking device that fits your needs.

Pricing? For just a few hundred dollars, you can help protect the value of an asset in your possession. If you calculate the item in question as to its impact on your business or organization if it were to become stolen, then you will have just looked at the real value that is added by the device. This money is not an outlay of cash it is an investment and insurance policy against loss.

Accountability? Being able to hold those accountable who are charged with the overseeing of assets is priceless. Governments are sometimes run with a nonchalant attitude towards asset management. Not any longer. Officials will see that the public is serious about keeping track of assets and making it a priority to require periodic checks to make sure that the items are secure.

Part of this process is in placing GPS Tracking devices into their hands in order to empower them with the ability to do a better job at asset management. Knowing and understanding the severity of and consequences from poor management is enough to force a change in attitudes and actions.

Making government organizations accountable by using GPS Tracking devices is a worthwhile endeavor. Using GPS Tracking devices to accomplish this mission is mandatory. The public will be satisfied with the results and begin to wonder how else GPS Tracking devices can improve their own circumstances.

By Greg Bartlett

Contrary to popular belief, not all cell phones will make good GPS trackers. The most accurate phones have AGPS or Assisted Global Positioning System. This kind of positioning uses cell towers in addition to the GPS network to more accurately track locations. Let’s discuss the positives and negatives of a cell phone GPS tracker.

Price is probably the biggest negative factor. Real time tracking is much more expensive than passive tracking because of the monthly contract required for phone locating. Phones that are capable of using AGPS are also more expensive than the basic phone options which can make setting up a cell phone GPS tracker a little pricy.

Privacy can also be a concern with any kind of GPS technology. With the rise of identity theft as well as kidnapping and stalking, people are more concerned with their privacy. The thought that just anyone could access their GPS information and track their location is indeed scary, but it is entirely untrue. Companies that work with GPS technology know the dangers and are very careful who they give information to. People do not have to live in fear that using a GPS tracker on their cell phone is going to make them an easy victim.

The benefits of GPS tracking on a cell phone far outweigh the disadvantages. These systems can give parents peace of mind because they will be able to track the location of their children, even if their children have a habit of lying about where they are. This allows parents to keep better track of their children, which will in turn keep them safe. These trackers can also be used to locate people for others reasons. Wives may be interested in a GPS tracker in order to make sure their husbands are staying faithful. GPS tracking can also be used to help locate lost or kidnapped people.

As the technology of a GPS tracker increases, it will be able to be used for many other purposes as well. Law enforcement officers want to be able to use GPS tracking to find the location of 911 calls which will be very helpful when people are in trouble but they do not know their exact location. As of now, it is possible for law enforcement officers to find the rough location of a cell phone as required by law after the 2001 terrorist attacks, but many improvements are still needed in this area.

by James Neely - freelance writer for hire

A list of the most exhilarating outdoor activities has to include Whitewater rafting. It mixes adventure with team work as well as a small amount of danger. If you have a love for outdoors and have never tried it, you don’t know what you are missing.

Whitewater rafting can be a short trip, day long adventure or even an overnight event. These trips can be on relatively rough waters for more experienced rafters, or calmer rivers for the less adventurous. Whichever you prefer, you will come back with many stories to tell.

One of the ways in which you can capture your adventure is by including a GPS Tracking device. Even a passive device like the Tracking Key would provide a good deal of information that you can use after the fact. However, if you feel the need for additional safety, then a PT-200 would work great because it supplies portability with real-time Internet tracking.

That provides you with the best security, especially if you are in a remote area that does not have cell signal coverage. Plus, those who care can track your progress. When you are back from your vacation, you can use the tracking on maps in order to show progress and add still pictures and video of your time on the trip.
With the features of GPS Tracking devices you can track for location, direction of travel, and speed. These are all valuable bits of data to have.

Location gives the observer an instant, pin-point accurate view of where you are located. This helps judge the adventure by comparing it to previous trips to measure progress towards your goal.

Direction of travel helps the observers to note which way you are going and whether or not you are keeping to the normal trip paths.

Speed helps keep a watch on your movements towards the finish of the trip. This helps tell those who need to know, when you will be arriving and will need to be transported back to home operations.

Safety is a big reason to obtain a GPS Tracking device for your trips. Should there be an accident the device will show no movement or progress which can be a red flag. Also, with geo-fencing, if the device violates a perimeter that is established on a computer, then an email and other notifications can be sent to alert those who need to know.

GPS Tracking devices are finding their way into more and more businesses. Each device fills a unique requirement and does so with appropriateness needed for the project. You will wonder what you did without these devices to begin with.

By Greg Bartlett

Over a million cars are stolen each year. Hopefully yours isn’t one of those! Keeping vehicles safe and recovering them when stolen is important to most car owners, but when thieves break into a car even though it is locked and secured, how can vehicle owners protect their car? After all, you have to go to work, go shopping, and participate in everyday activities, so you can’t watch your vehicle all the time. Thankfully, you do have something that can watch your car for you.

GPS vehicle tracking allows car owners to monitor their vehicle remotely. Most GPS systems allow owners to find out where their vehicle is, where it has been, what stops it has made, what its speed is, and many other similar options. If your car is stolen, a GPS vehicle tracking unit may be able to recover your car for you.

Since GPS systems can find a vehicle’s location to within a few feet and guide owners and police officers to the car, many individuals who have GPS devices in their automobiles have also used GPS tracking not only to find out where their car has been, but, if it is stolen, to recover it.

In Missouri, a hospital recently used the benefits of GPS vehicle tracking to recover a stolen ambulance. They had installed GPS in the vehicle in order to help drivers find their destination as quickly as possible and to help dispatchers know where their vehicles are, but when the crew dropped off a patient and returned to find the vehicle gone, the hospital used their GPS tracking system to find out where the auto thief had taken the ambulance.

In Florida, a man whose Honda Accord was stolen by two teens used his GPS tracking unit to lead the police to his car and the car thieves, who were then arrested.

Other individuals whose cars have been stolen and have used GPS devices to find their cars have also led to the thieves – or joyriders – capture, thus stopping further automobile thefts.

You may not be able to stop your car from being stolen since you can’t physically monitor it all the time. Someone may steal it, or someone may just be interested in a joyride. But no matter why your car disappears, you can find out where it is at all times with GPS vehicle tracking, which can monitor and locate your car for you.

By Greg Bartlett

If you’re like most people, at some point in time you have lost something. Maybe you accidentally dropped it and didn’t realize it, or maybe you put it somewhere and can’t remember where it is. Possibly someone else moved it and didn’t inform you, or the item could even have been stolen.

Satellite and Stratosphere

You may spend hours hunting for your lost possessions and never find them. This is especially problematic if you’re not at your own house, and you don’t know if you will ever see your possession again.

So, do you just go ahead and give up if an item is missing, even if you know it’s been stolen? Or if it’s been lost or mislaid, does the next person who finds it get to keep it? Thankfully, the answer can be no. You can get your item back with the help of GPS tracking devices.

People use GPS devices in their cars, cell phones, electronics, furniture, and pretty much any item they want. Some people put them on their pets so that if the pet gets lost, the owner can recover their furry member of the family. GPS tracking devices show the precise location of the tracked object, allowing owners to find and retrieve lost or stolen items.

For instance, one woman in Texas had her purse and cell phone stolen from her car. She had GPS tracking in her cell phone, though, and she followed her cell phone’s location through her personal computer, allowing police to find and recover both her purse and cell phone.

Another individual reported losing his cell phone while jogging, but was able to recover it when he used the GPS tracking in the phone to tell him where his lost phone was.

Of course, you probably can’t afford – or even want to – put a GPS device on everything you own. But people are putting them on their more expensive items or things which are more likely to be stolen. Cars, electronics, and cell phones are popular items to be tracked with GPS.

People whose cars have been stolen can often recover them if they have GPS vehicle tracking. Boats with GPS tracking devices can be found if they are stolen or drift away because the boat was improperly secured.

Your lost, misplaced, or stolen item doesn’t have to stay that way, or to fall into someone else’s hands. With GPS tracking devices, you can get your item back.