Supreme Court: GPS Tracking Requires a Warrant

Recently, the Supreme Court affirmed the D.C. Circuit’s ruling that the installation of a GPS tracking device upon a suspect’s vehicle was considered a “search” under the the Fourth Amendment.  In general, a search requires a warrant which would now apply to GPS “bumper beepers”.  When it comes to mobile surveillance, I see no difference in physically following a suspect by car and in following the car by GPS.  Electronic tracking is certainly a much safer procedure verses attempting to follow someone in heavy traffic without being detected.  Don’t get me wrong.  I unequivocally believe that a warrant should be required in most all cases.  Warrants need to be very specific in order eliminate the possibility of  the surveillance developing in to a witch hunt.  The high tech software and hardware that now exists makes it easy to commit an invasion of privacy.  Our privacy must be carefully protected by rule of law.

News articles of interest: USA Today Article;  ABC News Article; Reuters News Article