GPS Tracking

GPS Tracking Technology

A speeding violation or traffic ticket is something almost every driver, young or old, has gotten at one time or another. Although the circumstances vary from individual-to-individual, many people share the common story of, “I understand your radar gun may have said I was going over the speed limit, but I assure you officer that is impossible”. The radar gun and police officer have one story and the person who was driving has a differing one. Unfortunately, the law does not care about your recollection of the events and will always side with the law enforcement officer giving the ticket. That is of course until GPS tracking technology became so cheap and user-friendly that it now provides a way for citizens to combat the semi-reliable form of radar technology that law enforcement agencies use to clock speed.

Flaws of Radar and Laser Guns:

Radar or laser guns, the most common and popular approach law enforcement agents in the field use to  quickly calculate a motorist’s speed, are not 100% reliable and have a history of being error-prone. According to an online site dedicated to providing information on radar guns, 1 out of 4 traffic tickets given out due to a reading of a radar gun are in error.  The most common reasons for radar gun error are:

• RFI Interference-(Radio Frequency Interference) – If the officer has a commercial radio or police radar keyed up a poorly shielded radar gun could give inaccurate or blank speed reading.
• Cosine Error- Basically states that the larger the angle of transmission the larger chance of a potential error.
• Mechanical Interference –A case in 2004 is a perfect example of mechanical interference: A police car’s air and heating system was causing the radar gun to inaccurately record speeds. The readings clocked rocks at over 70mph.

There are additional variables, settings, and conditions that can cause a radar gun to inaccurately register speed.

GPS Tracking Systems

GPS Tracking and vehicle tracking technology has been customarily used by fleet operations over the past 10 years, but with the advances in GPS technology and implementation of cost-effective Chinese parts, the tracking systems are now affordable to the general population. Unlike radar guns, GPS tracking systems use satellite technology to triangulate position, speed, location, date, time, etc.  GPS tracking technology is widely viewed as the most accurate way to calculate such information.

GPS Tracking Systems: Why the Sudden Controversy?

A legal battle in the state of California over a speeding violation has resulted in a highly public debate about which technology, radar or GPS tracking, is more reliable. 17-year-old Shaun Malone was driving in a 45 mph zone in Petaluma, CA in 2007 when a Petaluma police officer pulled out his radar gun and clocked the teen’s speed at 62 mph.  Having a clear recognition for the dangers related to teen driving, Shaun’s parents purchased a GPS tracking system to monitor their son’s speed, also programming speed alerts to notify them either by text message or email if he was driving too fast.

When Shaun’s parents retrieved the information from the GPS tracking system they discovered that the GPS tracking data recorded a much different speed then the police officer recorded at the time Shaun was pulled over. The GPS tracking system data reported Shaun was driving 45 mph, or the legal and proper speed limit. After a judge overseeing the case reviewed the information and found Shaun guilty of speeding, charging him with a $194 fine, Shaun’s parents hired an attorney.

The case is now progressing through the courts and has cost the city over $15,000.

GPS Tracking: Difference of Opinion:

The city is fighting this case because they do not want to people to believe that the radar technology they are currently using to fight speed violators is out of date. A spokesman for the police department stated that radar guns prevent speeding and therefore save lives. However, Shaun’s parents were clearly aware of the problematic driving habits of most teen drivers and took a proactive approach to shaping their son’s driving behavior by installing a GPS tracking system into his vehicle. Shaun’s parents clearly share the view almost all experts hold, which is that GPS tracking and vehicle tracking technology is more accurate than radar, and the GPS tracking data recorded the day Shaun got the ticket should not be discounted simply because it goes against what the law officer said.

Should people be able to use GPS tracking system data to fight tickets they feel were improperly given?

Should law enforcement agencies look into other forms of monitoring speed that could be more reliable?