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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.