GPS can be more than your "friend."

[DLaw911]

I read today that more and more car rental companies are installing hidden GPS monitors in their vehicles and fining drivers who exceed the speed limit. They call it a high maintenance fee.

What I predicted years ago is becoming reality. Instead of red light and speeding cameras, all cars will have to be equipped with GPS trackers. The driver of the vehicle will be identified by either having to offer a thumb print, or have his photo taken if he exceeds the speed limit after which he will get a ticket in the mail. No chance for cross examination, no such thing as the basic speed law.

We really are heading in that direction.

Another example is cell phone tracking. You already know that a cell phone transmits even when it is turned off. The only way to stop it is to remove the battery. Did you also know law enforcement can follow a person by noting the cell sites the cell phone owner passes! I had a recent criminal case with a sealed search warrant (Hobbs). Pursuant to motion the warrant was unsealed and I learned that over a dozen suspects were tracked by police using the suspect's own cell phones. One of those persons was arrested. But the other 11 had their pricacy invaded and didn't even know it.

And then are phone and map options expose their GPS location to others who have permission.

Frankly this is heading FAST towards big brother and more and more people are inviting the technology into their vehicles. Frankly I would not want to be without my GPS but if it ever became a tool for law enforcment to detemine if I was going 1 MPH over the limit, I would disable it in a New York second.

[gdoane]

It's a two-edged sword which can be a weapon in the hands of citizens as well.

Here in Arizona there were hundreds of fixed photo-radar locations installed and soon afterwards, the locations were mapped on GPS to alert drivers when they're approaching one.

As for the GPS being used to track speeding on rental cars, that's a fairly expensive option. There's an easier way to do that called "Carchip Pro" which plugs into the OBDII (car computer) port under the dashboard and it records extreme acceleration, extreme braking, engine performance parameters and acts as a "black box" of sorts in the event of a collision. If I had a car rental company you betcha every car would have one of those.

I don't think "Big Brother" is going to happen to cars any time soon. There are 223 Million passenger vehicles in the USA. Even if you had a 1000:1 ratio of government employees to vehicles monitored it would take an Army of 22 Million people. Since the US Military only has 1.5 Million active members, better make that FIFTEEN Armies.

[MrShotShot]

Have you seen the new OnStar ad featuring their ability to stop your vehicle? It's being marketed as an "anti-theft" device, but it doesn't take much imagination to see the other implications.

As for the rental companies, I don't have a problem with that. It's their vehicle and they have a right to protect their investments.

[johnrocks]

I bought a GPS system, that's all I need,one to give directions. I want no part of something that keeps track of my every movement of stops my car on command.

[gdoane]

Have you seen the new OnStar ad featuring their ability to stop your vehicle? It's being marketed as an "anti-theft" device, but it doesn't take much imagination to see the other implications.

As for the rental companies, I don't have a problem with that. It's their vehicle and they have a right to protect their investments.

What other implications? That the cops can stop your car if you try to run? I watch these chases on TV and I don't see a lot of guys getting away once they get a helicopter on the job. You can run, but you'll only go to jail tired.

I suppose the FBI could get a list of Medical Marijuana card holders, track their movements and find the dope dealers... if the agent were stupid and didn't just get a list of grower permits instead and avoid the unnecessary work.

Maybe my truck being found to be parked at John McCain's office just north of Camelback on 16th Street would have me found out to be a Republican... except that's already my registration with the County Recorder and a matter of public record.

I would feel sorry for the poor guy who puts me under surveillance.

The report for yesterday would look like this:

0800: Subject emerged from house wearing tacky shorts and a wife-beater shirt. Walked around park and went back into house.

0900: Subject entered his pickup truck and drove to Safeway supermarket. Purchases included bananas, grapes and nectarines. Suspect may be making a fruit salad. No whipped cream though...

1000: Subject made unexpected turn into a Game Stop. Purchased was a copy of "Golden Axe: Beast Rider" for Xbox360. Obviously subject wants violence with his fruit salad.

1015: Subject returned home. Listening equipment picked up the unmistakable boot audio sequence of an Xbox360. Well, at least one of us is having fun.

1100: Heard the sounds of a blender. Looks like I was wrong about the fruit salad. The freak must be making fruit smoothies.

1200: Oh crud. He's got Rock Band 2 and he SUCKS at it! Please don't make me listen anymore! If he tries to play Alice in Chains, I QUIT!

1230: Yep. He tried to play "Man in the Box" and butchered it. I'm OUTTA HERE! Resignation effective IMMEDIATELY!

Most people aren't really worthy of surveillance and the cops wouldn't waste their time on it. I know I'd make a crummy assignment for sure. I've got about the most boring life ever.

[mysticbeauty_nbeast]

What other implications? That the cops can stop your car if you try to run? I watch these chases on TV and I don't see a lot of guys getting away once they get a helicopter on the job. You can run, but you'll only go to jail tired.

I suppose the FBI could get a list of Medical Marijuana card holders, track their movements and find the dope dealers... if the agent were stupid and didn't just get a list of grower permits instead and avoid the unnecessary work.

Maybe my truck being found to be parked at John McCain's office just north of Camelback on 16th Street would have me found out to be a Republican... except that's already my registration with the County Recorder and a matter of public record.

I would feel sorry for the poor guy who puts me under surveillance.

The report for yesterday would look like this:

0800: Subject emerged from house wearing tacky shorts and a wife-beater shirt. Walked around park and went back into house.

0900: Subject entered his pickup truck and drove to Safeway supermarket. Purchases included bananas, grapes and nectarines. Suspect may be making a fruit salad. No whipped cream though...

1000: Subject made unexpected turn into a Game Stop. Purchased was a copy of "Golden Axe: Beast Rider" for Xbox360. Obviously subject wants violence with his fruit salad.

1015: Subject returned home. Listening equipment picked up the unmistakable boot audio sequence of an Xbox360. Well, at least one of us is having fun.

1100: Heard the sounds of a blender. Looks like I was wrong about the fruit salad. The freak must be making fruit smoothies.

1200: Oh crud. He's got Rock Band 2 and he SUCKS at it! Please don't make me listen anymore! If he tries to play Alice in Chains, I QUIT!

1230: Yep. He tried to play "Man in the Box" and butchered it. I'm OUTTA HERE! Resignation effective IMMEDIATELY!

Most people aren't really worthy of surveillance and the cops wouldn't waste their time on it. I know I'd make a crummy assignment for sure. I've got about the most boring life ever.

:lol::lol::lol: Sounds like a perfect Saturday to me....boring...huh! Smoothies and some Man in the Box?...dude..your like totally living on the razors edge man! (heheheeh)

GPS/Nav systems are useful in cars...giving step by step guidance to those who have no sense of direction what so ever.:rolleyes: Personally...I think that damn overtly passive voice telling me which way to turn would make me bonkers..... ; besides..I like my old fashioned 'map' directions. To use it to give out tickets? Come on...that's taking it a bit far imo. You do have to speed up and go over the limit posted sometimes..and it's legal to do so...flow of traffic and all that. Wonder how they tell the difference between average driving and one mile over the speed limit..and some hack tearing it up?

~Mysty

[CaptainPike]

What other implications? That the cops can stop your car if you try to run? I watch these chases on TV and I don't see a lot of guys getting away once they get a helicopter on the job. You can run, but you'll only go to jail tired.

I suppose the FBI could get a list of Medical Marijuana card holders, track their movements and find the dope dealers... if the agent were stupid and didn't just get a list of grower permits instead and avoid the unnecessary work.

Maybe my truck being found to be parked at John McCain's office just north of Camelback on 16th Street would have me found out to be a Republican... except that's already my registration with the County Recorder and a matter of public record.

I would feel sorry for the poor guy who puts me under surveillance.

The report for yesterday would look like this:

0800: Subject emerged from house wearing tacky shorts and a wife-beater shirt. Walked around park and went back into house.

0900: Subject entered his pickup truck and drove to Safeway supermarket. Purchases included bananas, grapes and nectarines. Suspect may be making a fruit salad. No whipped cream though...

1000: Subject made unexpected turn into a Game Stop. Purchased was a copy of "Golden Axe: Beast Rider" for Xbox360. Obviously subject wants violence with his fruit salad.

1015: Subject returned home. Listening equipment picked up the unmistakable boot audio sequence of an Xbox360. Well, at least one of us is having fun.

1100: Heard the sounds of a blender. Looks like I was wrong about the fruit salad. The freak must be making fruit smoothies.

1200: Oh crud. He's got Rock Band 2 and he SUCKS at it! Please don't make me listen anymore! If he tries to play Alice in Chains, I QUIT!

1230: Yep. He tried to play "Man in the Box" and butchered it. I'm OUTTA HERE! Resignation effective IMMEDIATELY!

Most people aren't really worthy of surveillance and the cops wouldn't waste their time on it. I know I'd make a crummy assignment for sure. I've got about the most boring life ever.

Your life might be boring, but atleast you've got Rock Band. It can't be all bad.