Guy Finds FBI Tracking Device On Car, Posts Pics Online... FBI Shows Up Demanding It Back

from the well-that-confirms-it... dept

Fri, Oct 8th 2010 10:40am — Mike Masnick

Just a couple weeks ago, we had written about a federal lawsuit concerning whether or not the Justice Department needs a warrant to put a tracking device on cars. In a very prescient manner, a bunch of our commenters started discussing what would happen if they found such a device on their car, and whether or not it would be legal to remove it. Well, now we have a case of exactly that happening.

Apparently a guy named Yasir Afifi, who lives in Silicon Valley, discovered a strange device on his car, when he took it in for an oil change. The friend he was with took some photos and posted them to Reddit, asking if it meant the FBI was after them... or if it was a bomb:

Lots of people in the thread quickly confirmed that it was a tracking device, made by a company who only sold to law enforcement. Then, to confirm things, a couple of days later, the FBI showed up to demand he return the device. Wired has a cinematic description of the encounter:

Afifi considered selling the device on Craigslist before the FBI showed up. He was in his apartment Tuesday afternoon when a roommate told him "two sneaky-looking people" were near his car. Afifi, already heading out for an appointment, encountered a man and woman looking his vehicle outside. The man asked if Afifi knew his registration tag was expired. When Afifi asked if it bothered him, the man just smiled. Afifi got into his car and headed for the parking lot exit when two SUVs pulled up with flashing lights carrying four police officers in bullet-proof vests.

The agent who initially spoke with Afifi identified himself then as Vincent and told Afifi, "We're here to recover the device you found on your vehicle. It's federal property. It's an expensive piece, and we need it right now."

Afifi asked, "Are you the guys that put it there?" and the agent replied, "Yeah, I put it there." He told Afifi, "We're going to make this much more difficult for you if you don't cooperate."

The full story is a lot longer, and a fascinating read, so head over to that link to check it out. It also suggests some of the reasons why the FBI might be watching Afifi -- who says he already knows he's on the federal watchlist -- as well as concerns from the ACLU over the whole thing. Wired also spoke to an ex-FBI agent who thought that the FBI almost certainly would have gotten a warrant to install the device (though, given all the lawsuits, it seems they don't always do so...) and who also pointed out that this particular device is really old. The newer devices, apparently, are much harder to find. They don't come with their own battery pack, but run off the car's battery, and are much more well hidden.

Either way, apparently this gives the FBI's answer to what happens if you find the device. The friend on Reddit claimed they had thought about throwing it in a lake, or even just putting it on another car, "but when you come home to 2 stoned off their asses people who are hearing things in the device and convinced its a bomb you just gotta be sure."

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Filed Under: fbi, gps, tracking

115 Comments

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Dark Helmet (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 9:57am

Question...
"They don't come with their own battery pack, but run off the car's battery, and are much more well hidden."

Any chance that his runs afoul of laws, constitutional or otherwise, of law enforcement misappropriating lawfully owned property?
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- Designerfx (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 10:48am
  
  Re: Question...
  I could certainly see that occurring. Imagine if it was the GPS device that killed the battery, too.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- :Lobo Santo (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 10:57am
  
  Re: Question...
  I'd be more like:
  "I found it on my car, it's mine. If you'd like I'll sell you my unidentified device at a very reasonable rate."
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Kitkat Fox, 11 Jul 2014 @ 12:48pm
    
    Re: Re: Question...
    And that is when the military grade weaponry pops out of random boxes of flowers But hay by all means become swiss cheese for being a smart ass
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Haywood (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:27am
  
  Re: Question...
  I'd send them a bill for the electricity. Since no price was negotiated in advance, a billion $ a watt sould be fair.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:35am
    
    Re: Re: Question...
    He should have burned it and said, "sorry, I thought it came with my car and was mine. Didn't know it belonged to the FBI and I burned it thinking that the car dealer left it there by mistake."
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- scarr (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:35am
  
  Re: Question...
  I remember a case of a landlord installing a camera in a tenant's shower, and recording her. (I probably read it here.) The only law he could be prosecuted on was tapping her power to run the camera. I would think the same thing would apply here.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Christopher (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 12:37pm
    
    Re: Re: Question...
    Little problem: He OWNED the building in question in that case, that is why he couldn't be charged with any other crime.
    
    It is NOT a violation of someone's rights to put a camera in a place, even a BATHROOM, where you own the building and are just RENTING IT to a tenant.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - scarr (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 1:08pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Question...
      I think you missed the point of the thread.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 2:20pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Question...
      Actually it IS illegal to put a camera up in the bathroom (and changing rooms). If it wasn't then wouldn't you think stores would do it (or perhaps that hooters wouldn't have been sued)?
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 3:17pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Question...
      > It is NOT a violation of someone's rights to put a camera in a place,
      > even a BATHROOM, where you own the building and are just RENTING
      > IT to a tenant.
      
      Actually, in many places it is a crime. Haven't you been paying attention to the news lately-- the Rutgers student who webcammed him dorm roommate having a gay romance?
      
      The two kids have been charged under New Jerseys privacy laws with criminal violations. The same laws would apply to a landlord clandestinely spying on the tenants.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - Buster, 8 Oct 2010 @ 4:04pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Question...
        The student didn't get in trouble for videotaping it, the problem was it was closed-circuit AND he was purposely displaying it for the public. It's be charged as a hate crime
        Yeah go ahead and say it... "A hate crime because the guy was gay" [roll eyes here]
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - 101010101010101010101, 15 Oct 2010 @ 5:22pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re: Question...
        you have said like 8 million things we get it
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - idiotwatch, 8 Oct 2010 @ 10:24pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Question...
      Wrong.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 10 Jul 2014 @ 4:29pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Question...
      It is here, but here is not america...
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Bert Clayton, 17 Feb 2017 @ 12:12am
    
    camera in shower?
    That lady needed to ask around as there's an exchange of money for use of the property as ones' private residence. Some attorneys are in bed with those who have clout in an area who have their own union you might say where they may deny being able to do anything. Corrupt police can be in.on such as well. But he violated her at an intimate time which is very personal. Where if she can, contact the a.c.l.u. and anyone else. Which if she can't find an attorney but word gets around,.some righteous fellow might hurt that manager severely. Which if I was a cop and seen it hapoen I'd drive on by. Where there's some righteous people that use street justice.
    But an honest attorney, if he can prove it, she'd own that home and more!
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Bert Clayton, 17 Feb 2017 @ 12:36am
      
      f.b.i. tracker
      Now about the f.b.i. With that guy's name he's probably middle eastern. Where a bigot in the f.b.i. may be wanting to catch him doung something to hang his rear. Where that's a criminal act if he doesn't have a warrant, which a warrant is only needed if things are going to be legal. Otherwords a zealous officer could put a tracking device on the vehicle and go months or years tracing the guys every step and if he goes into some arwas associated with certain crimes, he can then remove the transmitter and come up with a reason to put him.under surveillance. As he may desirefor this fellow to lead him to other middle easterners like maybe if they have a camp. Find where it is, remove transmitter, then pursue investigations for other reasons.
      Then an honest agent might do something as a means to.protect the guy given anti arab sentiments.
      Which some may not know this, but there's groups as neighbors, others who're into things that'll do the same thing in an area. May simply use a cell phone so they can listen in too. Employers, coworkers trying to find what they can,.landlords,.snoopy neighbors, the list is endless. Which all qualify as stalking if a person experiences bad situations and things. But there's the issue of proving it in court. Where the Constitution calls it the burden of proof.
      Like one said if I found such on my.vehicle or hidden within the structure, I'd most likely simply take it off and throw it in a river. Where it's my vehicle and anything I don't want on it or in it, I have justification to remove and dispose of. As a person has the right to be secure in their person,.paper and effects. The effect is my.vehicle or my home. Find something I don't know what it is, I'd suspect others with nose problems or desiring to do something wrong.
      Better yet, attatch it to a hibernating bear. Or anything of similiar nature.
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- Anonymous Coward, 10 Jul 2014 @ 9:41pm
  
  Re: Question...
  When I went to the police academy we went over this. (Most of my classmates were on the fence about it like I am and am super interested in the conclusion) . In my state, tracking cars was legal because it was federally legal, although it was almost unheard of to do it...but the device was required b law to draw it's own power and to not interfere with the vehicle in amt way. It couldn't draw off the battery, engine, etc or change how the car drives or hinder it in any way.
  It was a lot of "it's technically legal but...".
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- yawp, 11 Jul 2014 @ 11:52am
  
  Re: Question...
  HA! The days of the government following their own laws was over along time ago. Welcome to the USA neo-fascist police state friend.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:03am

This guy seems like a real winner. Sounds like a great spokesperson for improving justice in the US.
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Robert Ring (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:07am

Embarrassing
This reminds me of the scene in 'Casino' where the FBI agents are spying on Sam Rothstein (DeNiro) from a small plane, run out of gas, and are forced to land on the golf course immediately behind his house while he's outside watching.

Gotta be so embarrassing.
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PrometheeFeu (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:16am

I think I might have had to put the device on another car... just for fun...
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- Berenerd (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:51am
  
  Re:
  ...cop car or Fire engine. "hey where ever this guy goes...crimes are being committed...we need to stop him NOW"
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- Natanael L (profile), 28 Apr 2011 @ 5:01am
  
  Re:
  My suggestion:
  
  Show it to some geek friends and let them make a nearly identical dummy, then put it next to the real one on the car.
  
  You vs FBI, 1-0 :D
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:17am

Doesn't law enforcement have any balls over there in the States? They didn't have the decency of revealing their true intentions from the start and had to wait for him to get into the car and start going to the exit to show up with the heavy artillery.

If they wanted the device so badly, they should have just approached him (with the appropriate precautions, of course) and demanded the device. Even if they had to bring in the SWAT or the army for the job, it would be a lot better than hiding and lying.
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- Christopher (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 12:35pm
  
  Re:
  Yeah, bring in the NOTORIOUSLY trigger happy SWAT team and Army.... I don't think so!
  That is asking for a severe problem.
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- Thomas (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 1:53pm
  
  The spooks..
  don't give a rats tushie about any such silly things as civil rights or the law. The guy who found the tracking device on his car is very very very lucky he didn't get blown away by several automatic weapons or sent on a one way vacation to gitmo. The Gestapo is alive and well in the u.s. and Himmler would be proud. I am far more afraid of the spooks and police in my own country than of the Taliban.
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  - Derek Kerton (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 5:19pm
    
    Re: The spooks..
    Does a Himmler mention qualify as Godwin's Law?
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- oscarjimenez, 10 Apr 2013 @ 12:09am
  
  Response to: Anonymous Coward on Oct 8th, 2010 @ 11:17am
  They don't have ballas they follow me every fucken place sneak around my house at 3 am they made me think I was loosing it long story short they don't hellp there just another problem its a bunch of idiots who just have fun and don't really keep the main goal!to stop crime!or help thouse in need ! All they want is the dope .they ignore the kids who get neglected in the dope houses and that's where they should start ! They should cut the fucken cycle from early age.but then again some are fucken to young probly fresh out the fucken army or watever.they even use family .mocking u at stores etc and funny when I drive true long lonley roads at nite by my self ! There to scary to follow me then.what does that tell u ? They need to get there fucken eyes open.and if u wanna stop drugs stop the addicts but they probly just wanna hit the big dogs to colect some cash.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Dude, 11 Jul 2014 @ 6:27am
  
  Tag pullover
  The person has to be driving the car to get stopped for expired tags.
  Having a car with expired tags is perfectly legal.
  It's the driving that's an infraction.
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  - AgentCatBot, 11 Jul 2014 @ 12:00pm
    
    Re: Tag pullover
    In CA, if you are on a public street, you can be ticketed for it.
    
    Failure to pay and report your registration status can result in a suspended license.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - spockers, 15 Nov 2015 @ 1:47am
    
    Re: Tag pullover
    Nope, it's the not paying property taxes that's illegal. They will actually send a cop to your house to remove the tag from the car, and suspend your driver's license. If you're lucky, they'll tell you about it.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
John Doe, 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:19am

I would have had fun with it
I would have put it under a long haul truck and let them chase their device across the country.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:20am

This is vandalism
The police are vandalizing property.. they better have a warrant..
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- Spikido, 14 Jul 2014 @ 7:41am
  
  Re: This is vandalism
  The FBI, not the police...
  
  I hope people actually know the difference.
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The Infamous Joe (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:27am

It's an older model.
It's an older model GPS device because now that they don't need warrants to GPS your car, they've suddenly needed *way* more GPS devices, so the dusted off all the old ones from storage, I bet.
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- The Infamous Joe (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:28am
  
  Re: It's an older model.
  BTW, that's just a guess. :)
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:30am

Could they have made the thing any bigger, it's so I don't see how anyone would ever notice it.
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- Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:37am
  
  Re:
  so small *
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 3:39pm
    
    Re: Re:
    that's what she... oh, nevermind.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Michael, 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:37am

Too bad
He should have smashed and then returned it. What could they do? If they placed it on his car and then knowingly abandoned it there, they have no claim for damages...
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- fogbugzd (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:54am
  
  Re: Too bad
  You are right. Watch any spy movie. The official way to handle any discover bug is to put it on the ground and smash it.
  
  Note: Not recommended if the found device is a bomb.
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  - Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 12:27pm
    
    Re: Re: Too bad
    "If I had seen the device, I probaly would have called 911 about a bomb and perhaps a TV station or 2. Good pub. for the FBI to have created a bomb scare in the neighborhood."
    
    From the comments in that post.
    
    Actually, that's probably a good idea. Better than smashing it, give the FBI bad publicity. I'm sure they would much rather I smash the device than to give them bad publicity over it. If I smash it they may try to make me pay for it and even if they don't make me pay for it I'm sure the lack of bad publicity is worth more to them then the device. If I give them bad publicity what can they do? I'll tell a judge I didn't know it wasn't a bomb, I don't know the difference between a tracking device and a bomb. I wanted to be safe and so I called the bomb squad. Call them from your cell phone and when they show up stay like 300 feet away from the building and explain to them where the device is. Let the news media broadcast the whole thing.
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    - Anonymous Coward, 9 Oct 2010 @ 9:06pm
      
      Re: Re: Re: Too bad
      Just sell it to Gizmodo. A quick tear down video released quickly could go viral.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - orbitalinsertion (profile), 11 Jul 2014 @ 4:49am
      
      Re: Re: Re: Too bad
      They should have to buy that story. When motorists and LEOs can't tell the difference between a bomb and a roadside digital sign displaying characters from Aqua Teen Hunger Force, they can't expect you to know that what looks like a walkie-talkie connected to a pipe bomb isn't some sort of remote detonation device.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
      - orbitalinsertion (profile), 11 Jul 2014 @ 4:55am
        
        Oops
        Forgot to thank the people who raised this zombie.
        
        Serves me right for not noticing dates.
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
        
        Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2014 @ 3:14pm
        
        Re: Oops
        Grrrr arrrrgh... braaiinnzzz!
        [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Skippy T. Mut, 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:39am

Why not have a little fun
Stick it to a public bus and let the FBI wonder why you just drive up and down the same street stopping every few blocks all day
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- m toro, 13 Jul 2014 @ 3:47pm
  
  Re: Why not have a little fun
  What a great image!
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:39am

That GPS got to be from the 80's LoL
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Ryan Diederich, 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:51am

The Line Between Rights and Laws Fades....
He could have done many of the things that you all have suggested, sold it, destroyed it, moved it, etc. They would make his life miserable. They control the information, they control the courts.

Imagine if they filed against him for tampering with police evidence or obstructing an investigation... He would never win.

Therein lies the problem.
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- Christopher (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 12:33pm
  
  Re: The Line Between Rights and Laws Fades....
  Actually, if you find something like this on your car, they cannot say that you are 'obstructing an investigation' by getting rid of it because it could just be some snot-nosed techie who put it on your car as a joke.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Andrew (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 1:05pm
  
  Re: The Line Between Rights and Laws Fades....
  Obstruction requires motive. If he didn't know what it was, there is no motive for him tampering with it.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- btr1701 (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 3:20pm
  
  Re: The Line Between Rights and Laws Fades....
  > They control the information, they control the courts.
  
  If you think the FBI controls the courts, you're nuts.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Trevor Bauknight, 10 Jul 2014 @ 12:46pm
  
  Re: The Line Between Rights and Laws Fades....
  The publicity is enough. People will be looking.
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- Walter, 10 Jul 2014 @ 2:39pm
  
  Re: The Line Between Rights and Laws Fades....
  What device, sir?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 11:53am

"Just a couple weeks ago, we had written about a federal lawsuit concerning whether or not the Justice Department needs a warrant to put a tracking device on cars."

If a warrant was granted I think an important question is was there a good reason for the warrant to be granted. If not then the law should require a warrant.
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 12:05pm

From the wired article:
" One of the agents produced a printout of a blog post that Afifi’s friend Khaled allegedly wrote a couple of months ago. It had “something to do with a mall or a bomb,” Afifi said. He hadn’t seen it before and doesn’t know the details of what it said."

http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/ciiag/so_if_my_deodorant_could_be_a_bomb_why_ar e_you/c0sve5q

The post in question, which is apparently enough to start an FBI investigation (if you're a brown person).

"bombing a mall seems so easy to do. i mean all you really need is a bomb, a regular outfit so you arent the crazy guy in a trench coat trying to blow up a mall and a shopping bag. i mean if terrorism were actually a legitimate threat, think about how many fucking malls would have blown up already.. you can put a bag in a million different places, there would be no way to foresee the next target, and really no way to prevent it unless CTU gets some intel at the last minute in which case every city but LA is fucked...so...yea...now i'm surely bugged : /"
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- Christopher (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 12:32pm
  
  Re:
  The worst thing about this is that this is the SAME STUFF that I brought up in a forum, and I am white so... that must be the ONLY reason why I wasn't bugged with one of these things.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Atkray (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 1:17pm
    
    Re: Re:
    The guys who planted this unit were not particularly careful about concealing it. I wouldn't be so sure you don't have a similar device. I've been under enough vehicles to know it would be simple to hide that were you wouldn't find it unless you knew where to look.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 1:30pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      "The guys who planted this unit were not particularly careful about concealing it."
      
      Much of what the kid said didn't make much since. This thing could have been a joke by the kid to make the FBI look dumb or something? Seems unlikely though but the kids story also seems a bit off.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - btr1701 (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 3:22pm
    
    Re: Re:
    > that must be the ONLY reason why I wasn't bugged with one of these things.
    
    How do you know you weren't?
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Reality bites, 12 Jul 2014 @ 3:48pm
  
  Proves how utterly ignorant and evil the feds are.
  I guess it goes without saying, if you are evil/stupid enough to want to work for a rogue agency, can't expect them to have enough sense to walk and chew gum.
  
  Common sense is completely lacking in the rogue treason for profit industry, whether it's making landmines, armed drones to murder children with, militarizing the private armies or giving diplomatic immunity to mercenaries, no oversight never any justice. Just look at blackwater.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
mrtraver (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 12:15pm

Not going there
I won't hypothosize online what I would do, cuz I don't want the Man watching me.
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stokessd, 8 Oct 2010 @ 12:24pm

better idea
Putting it on another vehicle would not really be an issue for the FBI because the thing tells them exactly where it is, so the FBI could call the nearest police dept along the route to stop that car and grab the device. easy peasy.

The real fun would happen when you start to understand what is there. That device is essentially a GPS receiver, and a data radio. Unless the manufacturer has been rolling their own receivers, dollars to doughnuts, the receiver chip talks to the data radio via a serial protocol. My recommendation would be to cut the serial line from the GPS chip and take a little computer or even an arduino and an SD card and playback the GPS output of a car going in a loop up and down the the PCH or something similar into the data radio. Then take that whole thing and put it on another car. Hilarity ensues...

Sheldon
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- Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 6:10pm
  
  Re: better idea
  Up and down the PCH? How about at three times the legal speed limit? How about doing doughnuts on the White House lawn? Jumping the grand canyon? Visiting the Mariana Trench? I mean you only have so much vacation time, you should do something a little adventurous. I hear the International Space Station is nice.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Natanael L (profile), 28 Apr 2011 @ 5:07am
    
    Re: Re: better idea
    You know Google Earth's flight simulator? Yeah, that one :D
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - Anonymous Coward, 12 Jul 2014 @ 1:11am
    
    Re: Re: better idea
    How would you go to the ISS via GPS?
    
    GPS satellites are in a much lower orbit!
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
    - Anonymous Coward, 12 Jul 2014 @ 8:05am
      
      Re: Re: Re: better idea
      Uh, no, the GPS satellites are in a higher orbit. There are experiments on the ISS and other other LEO satellites that use GPS.
      [ link to this | view in chronology ]
out_of_the_blue, 8 Oct 2010 @ 12:26pm

They did right: always go as public as possible.
Police states can't stand the light.

As think I quoted here before, from Rex Stout: "You cannot answer a policeman by yourself. It takes a whole nation to answer a policeman."
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 1:30pm

What makes you think that someone who is on the watch list and says "they had thought about throwing it in a lake, or even just putting it on another car, "but when you come home to 2 stoned off their asses people who are hearing things in the device and convinced its a bomb you just gotta be sure." would ever consider calling 911?
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Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 2:31pm

Clicking on this story from common providers get you redirected to sites that are not related. Didn't take long for the FBI to mess up those links.
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btr1701 (profile), 8 Oct 2010 @ 3:15pm

Legalities
> apparently this gives the FBI's answer to what happens if you find the device.

Not really. All it does is show what happens when you find it and publicize the fact that you found it. If you find it and do what those guys planned on doing, and put it on another car or something, the question is still open-- what will they try and do to you? Obstruction? Destruction of government property?

Are you under some legal obligation to leave strange shit alone that you find on your car?

I'm a cop myself and I have no idea what the actual answers to these questions are.
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- Anonymous Coward, 8 Oct 2010 @ 6:10pm
  
  Re: Legalities
  Didn't the cops make unauthorized use of his vehicle to haul the thing around? Sort of unauthorized joy riding? Or theft of service (transportation)? Aren't those kinds of things illegal?
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- Anonymous Coward, 10 Oct 2010 @ 7:00am
  
  Re: Legalities
  I'm a cop myself and I have no idea what the actual answers to these questions are.
  
  Wow, I don't think I've EVER heard a cop admit before that they don't know it all.
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  - Natanael L (profile), 28 Apr 2011 @ 5:27am
    
    Re: Re: Legalities
    Don't forget to make a screenshot and print it out!
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- Walter, 10 Jul 2014 @ 2:49pm
  
  Re: Legalities
  Did they verify the guys ere actually FBI? Could've been another agency or just somebody who wanted to track him for their own reasons but needed a credible scapegoat to blame. It could also explain why they demanded the expensive device back. The FBI can afford to lose costly equipment, a jealous husband or rival, not so much.
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abc gum, 8 Oct 2010 @ 6:11pm

It wont be long till all of us are tagged and we will not know it. It's time to just assume that you are being watched and you are being followed. If not not now, you soon will be. Welcome to the machine.
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- alternatives(), 9 Oct 2010 @ 9:58am
  
  We are taged.
  And we willingly tag ourselves.
  
  Cell phones. You carry 'em and they are always broadcasting.
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  - Just ME!, 9 Oct 2010 @ 9:07pm
    
    Re: We are taged.
    This is very very true!! It isn't like they have to put one of these on most people!
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  - Anonymous Coward, 10 Jul 2014 @ 5:34pm
    
    Re: We are taged.
    I got a cellphone from 2005 with no gps, still take the battery out of it when not used. Back then I had "reasons", now only for the principle. I'm amazed I can still just buy time-cards for it.
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- AgentCatBot, 11 Jul 2014 @ 12:02pm
  
  Re:
  Do you have an Android phone?
  
  Go to https://maps.google.com/locationhistory/b/0
  
  Watch where you've been, every single day.
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Anonymous Coward, 9 Oct 2010 @ 4:06pm

A friend of mine is a cop and his chief put tracking devices on the squads to make sure his guys were not screwing off. My friend of course knew this, took it off and stuck it on a regional bus. They were pretty pissed off but couldn't prove that he did it.

What are you doing that you believe that the police (FBI, DEA, NEA, PETA or anyone else) would want to follow you or tap your phone or read your emails? Most of mine even I don't want to listen to or read. As for the following, I guess I must be missing out because where I go wouldn't interest anyone. What is your life about?
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- Anonymous Coward, 10 Oct 2010 @ 7:07am
  
  Re:
  They were pretty pissed off but couldn't prove that he did it.
  
  That's the nice thing about being a cop, they have to PROVE that you did something wrong before they can punish you for it (which is probably why the chief went to the extremes that he did). Whereas in the regular world it's pretty much up to whatever your boss happens to think (they don't have to "prove" anything).
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Marco, 10 Oct 2010 @ 3:45am

Ah! America ... land of freedom ...
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Oct 2010 @ 8:24am

snaek up to a cab and attach
put a sticker on it "next time you want to follow me do it right"
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- Natanael L (profile), 28 Apr 2011 @ 5:30am
  
  Re: snaek up to a cab and attach
  Hahahaha
  
  And put an annoyatron (Thinkgeek has them) next to it that's activated by a string when they pull it off
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Oct 2010 @ 8:25am

send hte fbi a power use bill
plus labour and parts to replace the car battery you will claim they drained, plus lawyer fees of course
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hmm, 12 Oct 2010 @ 3:08pm

its not illegal if
It would only be considered legal IF the landlord clearly mentioned in the tenancy agreement that the tenant was to be spied on, the tenant agreed that this was a part of the deal and the terms for the "spying" were unambiguous.

e.g.
section 2: Landlord reserves the right to poke a hole in the toilet stall, insert a camera lens and masturbate furiously in the neighbouring flat whilst you strain to release an enormous poo.........
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johnpombrio, 12 Oct 2010 @ 4:25pm

OMG, I found one too!
In driveway, in driveway, to pizza, in driveway, in driveway, to library, to high school pool, in driveway, to grocery store, in driveway, in driveway.
Well, there is MY week on the FBI�s GPS tracking data. More power to them�
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1010101010101010101, 15 Oct 2010 @ 5:18pm

wow
should have made them pay for it
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HighlanderJuan, 24 Feb 2011 @ 4:22am

What about Obama
It's pretty well understood by now that Obama and the dem controlled congress have stolen trillions from the United State's citizens. It is also understood that the union chieftans, who visit the white house every week, get a large portion of the stolen funds.

My question is, why doesn't the FBI track and harass the powerful thieves in government first, and then go after the miscreants in the public arena?

Crap. I can answer my own question: the FBI reports to Holder - the second biggest lawbreaker in the central government.

Sorry, America, you will never see justice or freedom under communist dictatorships like ours.
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- Someantimalwareguy, 4 Mar 2011 @ 4:47pm
  
  Re: What about Obama
  Wow - you need to stop drinking all that tea while listening to Glen Beck. All that caffeine is making you crazy lol...
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  - Natanael L (profile), 28 Apr 2011 @ 5:32am
    
    Re: Re: What about Obama
    He's only 50% crazy.
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- Anonymous Coward, 10 Jul 2014 @ 5:45pm
  
  Re: What about Obama
  >dem controlled congress
  
  What? You guys only had this for a short period from 2008-2010 then the FUD Tea Party Obama is a Muslim-Terrorist-Nigger-not-born-in-the-US thing was in full swing and it tossed out the Democratic majority in 2010 by-elections.
  
  While Obama isn't as awesome as previously advertised, that gridlock congress you got going on where they will say no to anything good (certainly not privacy policy, but other things)proposed by Obama/Democrats was to be blocked. It's a proven policy of the Republican Congress ffs! Boehner agreed with Obama for barely 24 hours for immigration reform, and his party took a shit on him and he had to go against his own thoughts to please the bunch of inbred doofuses in there.
  
  Democrats control the Senate and from what I hear the tea partiers are into, they better stay in control of it.
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Jennifer, 14 Nov 2011 @ 4:59pm

A random largish magnet appeared on my car
I came back to my car after leaving it in a parking lot for about 6hrs one night. It is magnet about the size of my hand, with the picture of a cartoon hornet, looking fierce with a sailors hat, big muscles and giant machine gun lol. I have a few stupid ridiculous(gov sucks) reason why some law enforcement might be tracking me.

Any chance there could be a chip in the magnet? It was just on the side of my front hood but what a really non obvious way. At first I saw
it and thought it was funny so I kept it there...what are y'all thoughts?
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Jennifer, 14 Nov 2011 @ 4:59pm

A random largish magnet appeared on my car
I came back to my car after leaving it in a parking lot for about 6hrs one night. It is magnet about the size of my hand, with the picture of a cartoon hornet, looking fierce with a sailors hat, big muscles and giant machine gun lol. I have a few stupid ridiculous(gov sucks) reason why some law enforcement might be tracking me.

Any chance there could be a chip in the magnet? It was just on the side of my front hood but what a really non obvious way. At first I saw
it and thought it was funny so I kept it there...what are y'all thoughts?
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- Anonymous Coward, 15 Nov 2015 @ 1:57am
  
  Re: A random largish magnet appeared on my car
  I think you're hot, Jennifer, despite your redundancy.
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computer, 11 Apr 2012 @ 7:53pm

tarcjer
i foud the device and you wont catch me
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Anonimo, 12 Oct 2012 @ 3:18pm

good bye bye
eu estou tentando comprar um carro mas o fbi esta atrapalhando v�o se ferrar voc�s.
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Rick, 10 Jul 2014 @ 5:12am

East Germany
Remember when East Germans were tracked mercilessly by their own paranoid soviet government?
They yearned to be free, I guess the FBI is now being a bit nostalgic and bringing East Germany to us.
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Lineu JR, 10 Jul 2014 @ 1:55pm

omg
Run to the hills
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Anonymous Coward, 10 Jul 2014 @ 4:24pm

That thing is huge. I guess it is a direct GPS and not the kind used in Breaking Bad whom I was wondering if they existed (install and take back and plug in using usb). I never got to know, it seems that article was deleted for this updated one.
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Flying Tiger Comics, 10 Jul 2014 @ 6:42pm

Michael Hastings
so many things can be put under cars
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- Anonymous Coward, 12 Jul 2014 @ 8:13pm
  
  Re: Michael Hastings
  Throw it in the trashcan and claim you were repairing your car and noticed this thing that wasn't there before and since you figure it wasn't doing your car any good you threw it away not knowing what it is or where it came from. Make sure you do it the day they collect the trash so it can get picked up by the garbage trucks.
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Crystal Starheart, 11 Jul 2014 @ 9:28am

FBI connected to planting bombs and other criminal operations too....
He is lucky that is all they put on his car..... look what happened to Michael Hastings and Judy Bari.......They are also connected to covert entry burglaries in Washington state... I've lost THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PROPERTY TO THESE COVERT ENTRY CRIMINALS HIDING BEHIND HOMELAND SECURITY AGENCY AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT PROTECTION......

THE US Governement is just an ORGANIZED CRIME SYNDICATE NOW!!!!

..... WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT RUNNING PROTECTION FOR THESE HOMELAND SECURITY CRIMINAL AGENTS.
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- Cowardly Anonymous, 13 Jul 2014 @ 3:39pm
  
  Re: FBI connected to planting bombs and other criminal operations too....
  Get them on the hook for damages because they used their device in an unsafe or inappropriate manner? I like that one.
  
  Personally speaking? I'd figure out which senator (or other government figure) is dead set against this sort of thing and go put it on their car. After a few days pass, I'd send this senator an anonymous warning on FBI stationary (easily faked) stating they are currently being watched without a warrant to do so. And it would be true, too, if the FBI didn't realize they were now watching someone other than their intended target.
  
  Glad this story got resurrected. Never read it until today. :)
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Anonymous Coward, 12 Jul 2014 @ 10:37am

Set it on fire while it' still attached to the car and when they show up to retrieve it because it's not sending, sue them for another car. ;)
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Anonymous Coward, 13 Jul 2014 @ 3:25pm

With all of the great ideas (city bus, southbound truck, thrown down the hole in a port-o-let)... I think the BEST idea would be to take it down to the hood & find a hooptie with giant 56" wheels sitting outside of a crack house. Attach and watch the fun!

It would lead them to an actual criminal! ;)

I don't think they would be nearly as mad after you helped do their job for them... better than they are doing it.
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Arts Fantasy, 13 Jul 2014 @ 7:30pm

The New Holocaust
Arabs are slowly being treated by USA like Jews where by Nazis.
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George Baken, 15 Sep 2014 @ 5:50am

GPS tracking
GPS tracking device can be used for harmful effects by terrorists, thieves, and other rivals. If someone hides it inside your vehicle without letting you know then you are not safe and your location can be tracked on a mobile phone or any other device to cause you harm. Inform to police if you found such device near by your vehicle for safety.
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Anonymous Coward, 7 Dec 2014 @ 2:27pm

2 of my cars have been illegally tampered with with sound devices and cameras
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- spockers, 15 Nov 2015 @ 1:54am
  
  Re:
  Only 2 of your cars? You're lucky. 37 of my cars have been illegally tampered with with sound devices and cameras.
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dave, 7 Dec 2015 @ 8:33pm

fbi device found in my car
In east mesa arizona couple days ago I found a odd device in my car.I don't have a cell phone and I have not been online because someone else is invading my WiFi being able to follow my stuff on my tablet even with highest security options. Finnaly I got the balls to look this up

Looked it up with serial number. It is a FBI tracking device! I'm completely dumbfounded. I don't know how it got there but it was not there days ago. Also my car won't start, and stranage things have happened that if I tolled anybody they would think I'm crazy.things like this morning I woke up and found my car door key on the floor inside next to my front door. Went to get my keychain and it was not there were I lefst it. It was on the floor next to my bed. Other shit has happened that is not a cowinsident.
But I have proof now. Now I'm not sure what to do? But I feel very violated.
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Jonathon, 15 Jan 2016 @ 12:11pm

The only thing that I do is go to work and live it work the only thing that I would like to be doing is working on my 300ZX after work if y'all could let me know how to get it back working after y'all installed all the devices I will personally keep a tracking device on it for you I know I'm not an angel I know that y'all don't like excuses on why people turned out the way they did but if you would like to talk to me about anything my number is 903-724 6432
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