GPS Tracking

Supreme Court Mandates Warranted GPS Tracking

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that law enforcement officials violated the Constitutional rights of suspected cocaine dealer, Antoine Jones, when they attached a GPS tracking device on his Jeep without a search warrant. The data obtained from the GPS tracker was used to convict Jones of possession of narcotics with the intent to distribute, which was later overturned in a federal appeals court.

District of Columbia police and FBI agents watched Jones, a nightclub owner, for months with an array of surveillance techniques, including tapping his cellphone under a warrant from a federal judge. Police had obtained a warrant for the District of Columbia, however, it expired before the GPS tracking device was installed in Maryland.

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Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow…

The month of December is just around the corner and that means that the roads will soon be covered with snow, and in some cases lots of it. For some parts of the country, such as Los Angeles, CA, this is really a non-issue since the word “snow” is such a foreign concept. However, for cities such as Chicago and Detroit, this is a yearly ritual that is often accompanied with sentiments that fall somewhere along the spectrum of joy and dread.

On the one hand, the yearly snowfall a sign that Christmas is near. It’s a time for candy-canes, hot-chocolate, colorful lights, and presents under the tree. But on the other hand, it’s also the time of the year when the roads become increasingly dangerous due to all the ice and torrential snowfall. And oftentimes, people who live in these harsh conditions are forced to patiently wait on snow plows to clear the roads for safe travel.

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DCF Plans to Save Money by Tracking its Employees

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) for the State of Connecticut is considering adding GPS tracking devices to its fleet of 800 vehicles to monitor the misuse of its vehicles.

In her proposal to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s budget office, DCF Commissioner Joette Katz estimates these GPS devices will save the state nearly $250,000 in the first year by being able to provide data on the misuse of its vehicles, verify overtime hours, and may potentially save 20% on fuel consumption. The state’s legislature’s research arm reported that it spent $15.7 million on gas alone in fiscal 2008. Since then, the state has taken steps to reduced its fleet by 800 cars.

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Tracking Grazing Livestock in China

The use of GPS tracking has ventured beyond the realm of gas-powered vehicles. China is beginning to apply its GPS satellite technology to aid herdsmen in monitoring their grazing livestock in Erdos, which is located in northern Inner Mongolia.  The GPS tracking technology was implemented and fitted on to about a dozen sheep and cattle through the animal husbandry bureau in the city’s Hangjin Banner County.

According to Chao Lu, who serves as the head of the bureau, “Herdsmen can see where the herds move through the village’s website or receive short message reports of the movements on their cell phones.” GPS satellite system used to monitor the livestock uses the 3S technology developed by the animal husbandry bureau along with experts from Huadong Normal University and Inner Mongolia Normal University.

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Theft Recovery Is A Challenge for Dealerships

Times have been tough lately for the automobile sales industry, and everyone is looking for ways to boost their bottom line.  However, the sluggish economy has resulted in weak sales for some dealerships this year.  One often-overlooked way to save money is improving operating efficiency.  Theft recovery is an issue of great concern at dealerships of all sizes, whether large or small.  Sometimes the problem may be a forgetful or inexperienced sales associate who neglects to note a potential customer’s identification information.  Sometimes it is an issue of deliberate identity theft.  Regardless of the circumstances, it is often extremely difficult and expensive, not to mention time-consuming, to recover the stolen vehicle.

Real-time GPS Tracking Systems Could Be the Solution

Portable real-time GPS tracking systems are an excellent way to handle such inefficiencies.  One example of a unit that could assist in a theft recovery situation is the Victoria, manufactured by LandAirSea Systems, Inc.  This real-time GPS tracking device has a battery that lasts up to 10 hours of motion on a single charge, and may be recharged with a standard wall outlet or an optional USB cigarette lighter adapter.  For a more subtle solution, an optional water-resistant case with a powerful magnet allows the Victoria to be mounted even underneath the vehicle.  Because the GPS system is real-time, the software updates every 10 seconds and may be easily monitored.  For more information regarding this product, visit www.landairsea.com.

Are Real-Time GPS Tracking Units Right for Your Dealership?

The system is easy: simply slip a real-time GPS tracking unit anywhere into or onto a vehicle before it is checked out of the dealership for a test drive.  From the comfort of the dealership’s office, managers can conveniently monitor the location, speed, and direction traveled by each GPS tracking device.  The security gained from such a tracking system is a great benefit.  Real-time tracking systems retail for about $399.00 per unit and involve a small monthly fee.  Depending on the size of the dealership, these costs could add up and seem expensive, especially given the current economy.  However, once we consider the enormous potential savings if even one stolen vehicle is recovered, the initial investment is well worth the cost of these GPS tracking units.

The Choice Can Have Far-Reaching Results

Look for Devices That Offer Protection and Recovery

Most of us don’t pay attention to protecting our vehicles from theft.  We just hope that with standard manufacturers’ theft deterrent systems all will be ok and that nothing will happen to us.

That is faulty for several reasons.  First, by burying your head in the sand with this attitude, you become less informed and possibly an easier target.  This is especially true if you live in major cities and towns.  There are roving bands of thieves that do nothing but target vehicles that are easy to steal, strip down and sell for parts on the black market.  And, they are not necessarily looking for expensive or exotic cars and trucks.  They want every day, common vehicles because they are easy to strip and sell quickly. (more…)

If You Have a Portable Device, Battery Power Will Be an Issue

Looking for New Battery Technology to Take to the Next Level

How many of us can relate to the desire to purchase stock in battery companies?  The reason is that we have become so dependent upon them in our society.  And, not just for toys, either.  No, we’re talking about devices that sustain life, improve quality of life and assist in important tasks like safety and security.

The One Achilles Heel with Batteries

GPS Tracking devices are caught up in this discussion, too, because of the need to power portable devices via battery when there is no outside power source available.  If the battery dies in a tracking device, you are out of luck in finding and maintaining contact with the unit.

This affects businesses and organizations whose responsibility it is to keep track of important equipment and assets via GPS Tracking. (more…)

Thieves Know Where You Live

Take Measures to Protect Yourself

One of the most popular items to steal from a vehicle is a GPS Navigation device.  These dashboard / windshield attached devices are popular and even though the prices have come down on them, they are still a quick money-maker for thieves.

Unlike GPS Tracking devices, Navigation units are visible and highly popular.

Now, they are being used in an even more dangerous way:  telling thieves where you live.  Most people put their home address on the GPS Navigation device to enhance their use.  This is dangerous information if it gets into the wrong hands.

Prevention Steps

Here’s what you can do to protect yourself from becoming a victim of this type of crime:

Take it with you.  When you leave your vehicle, take your GPS Navigation unit with you.  Sure, it’s a pain to take it out of the holder, but consider the alternative pain of recovering from a car and home break-in.  It’s not contest.  We become too routine in our actions when we drive from place to place.  That needs to change.

Leave no evidence behind.  Removing the brackets that hold the device will help keep those who are trying to steal these devices from making the attempt.  Usually, when they see that someone is actively doing this, they will simply move on to an easier target. (more…)

GPS Systems Trump Cell Phone Based Tracking

Better Self-Policing is a Positive Thing for the Community

Source acquired via Iberia Net, June 11, 2010, St. Martinville, Louisiana – the St. Martinville Police Department is about to join hundreds of other police departments across the world by installing GPS trackers inside of police cruisers. While the department previously tracked cruisers through cell phone trackers, this type of tracking proved to be too inaccurate.

Real GPS Tracking Devices Installed

On July 1, all 16 St. Martinville patrol cars will be equipped with GPS tracking devices. St. Martinsville Officer Todd D’Albor told press that the old cell phone tracking systems “…could not get accurate readings.” As a result, the department has just spent $2000 on new GPS tracking devices, and the department will spend more than $3000 per year in service fees. Unlike the old cell phone trackers, the new GPS tracking devices will be able to keep track of speed, location, and mileage. (more…)

Economic Conditions Force Adaptation

Relying Too Much on Technology?

It’s a fact of life that we cannot avoid:  lean and mean times require lean and mean methods of operating for everyone.  Business, government, even our own families have to learn to do more with less.

Technology is at the forefront of delivering ways to accomplish this.  We are seeing things like PBX phone systems that allow callers to route their own calls, and even those pesky self-serve check-outs at national retailers reshape how we think about working with less.

Businesses have downsized to the point that what used to be called essential services that were performed by several people are now relegated to other departments and spread across a few remaining workers.

Have you tried to get support from a major company recently?  If they have not embraced off-shore support, then you are often directed to a website to get online help and assistance.  Businesses have eschewed personal contact in favor of user ‘communities’ online that you can utilize by signing up and posting messages about your issue or problem.  And, if you choose to try to call companies, the phone systems are difficult to navigate and often you end up hanging up in frustration.

These organizations are turning to technology to help solve the problem of being able to do more with less.  GPS Tracking is one of these that are being incorporated on a daily basis to do just that.  Here’s how: (more…)