Massachusetts Says Cops Need Warrant To Stick GPS Device On Your Car
from the that-makes-two-states dept
For the past few years, it's become increasingly common for police to put GPS devices on suspects' cars to track where they are. But, that's kicked up a bunch of legal questions concerning whether or not it's legal to do that without a warrant. So far, the courts have not really agreed. Earlier this year, we saw one court (a federal appeals court, 4th circuit) say that police didn't need a warrant, but then, just days later, a court in NY ruled the other way, saying that it was a violation of the 4th Amendment. Now, the state Supreme Court in Massachusetts has weighed in as well, again saying that a warrant is needed to put a GPS device on your car. So that makes NY and Massachusetts as states where police can't randomly stick GPS devices on your car. The other 48 states? Good luck...Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: gps, massachusetts, police, warrant
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New Technology, New problems
I imagine that this will become a bigger issue as other states start to do similar things, so I expect this to come up again.
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Well the police don't need a warrant to hide in a room and listen to a conversation, but they do need a warrant to put a bug in the room to listen in.
But I'm no lawyer. What do I know.
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Yes, that's probably the argument, but it's a silly one. To properly analogize GPS and following someone, you need to take into account that they are literally invading the integrity of your personal property in placing a physical object on your person or property (assuming they aren't just LoJacking them.
If you think of it that way, it's akin to them saying, "Well, we could just walk behind you and listen to everything you say, so putting this listening bug on you is no big deal. No, no, gentle citizen, it HAS to up the anus, and yes the only way to put it there is with these rusty pliers."
Okay, well maybe not that last part....
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Nah, if the cops have just cause to do that, then they can convince a judge to give them a warrant.
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Re: #7 CST
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The law will get changed..
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Re: The law will get changed..
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Re: Re: The law will get changed..
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Must....not....give in....to Godwin's....Law....Must....Resist urge....to point out....stupidity....
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I'ma let you finish now.
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Anyway if you have nothing to hide, you obviously have nothing to fear. Though if they have nothing to convict then they need not be suspecting me either.
Its an invasion of privacy and I do not appreciate that people take such a apathetic attitudes towards things like that.
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"Anyway if you have nothing to hide, you obviously have nothing to fear. Though if they have nothing to convict then they need not be suspecting me either."
That's the point. We all have something to hide. If you think you have broken no laws on any one day, you are probably wrong. Picked up some change off the street recently? Did you report it on your taxes? Did you return the found property to the police station so it could be returned to its owner? And the list goes on.
Listen to this: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4097602514885833865#
You'll see what I mean...
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If I found a GPS on my car placed there by the police wanting to track my whereabouts they would be sorely disappointed with where I travel to. Work...home....thats about it really. I would be pissed they placed it there with out my permission but that's the whole point of it being there and I know they wouldnt find anything to convict me on any charges other than needing a more exciting life.
If the law nationwide is that they need a warrant to place some sort of tracking devise on someones car then it would be better because they would have to prove they have reason to believe someone is doing some shady business. But if they are allowed to just willy nilly slap stuff on cars because they want to then we have problems.
Plus then they would also be able to tack on extra charges to people, for speeding etc, with the gps knowing where they went and how fast they got there taking the ability for people to face their persecutors in a court of law because an electronic device caught them and they dont have much of a personality
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Rule of thumb
Sure I can follow someone down the sidewalk and listen to what they say, but if I did so every day for an extended period of time or followed them into their home; I would get thrown in jail for stalking.
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LoJack and OnStar
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Re: LoJack and OnStar
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Federal vs state interpretations.
1. If you're going hook into the electrical system you need a court order, period.
2. If the installation takes you into the curtailage of the target (e.g. carport), you need a court order.
3. Other cases take verbal concurrence of the Assistant US Attorney handling the case. In other words, there must be an active criminal investigation and not a fishing expedition.
The affidavit for the court order and the warrant are the same format. Granted the bar is slightly higher for a warrant than a court order, but the procedure is the same and there will be a request to seal the warrant until the device is removed.
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Wonder what happens if
I think there is more than the 4th amendment to be considered here placing such a device would mean that your personal property was accessed with out your knowledge. Could this be considered breaking and entering by the police?
I think there is a lot more at stake here than just the 4th
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Why these is no massive uproar against that idea is beyond me.
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tracking devices and police.
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Track Everyone??
If the police should not need a warrant to tag a car, then a stalker can tag his victims car without breaking the law.
Wisconsin is the only state that does not believe in the Ammendment 4 of our Constitutional rights. Is there even any crimee in Wisconsin? Our Constitution is very important and their are plenty of fiends who would like to abolish it.
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