Connecticut police chiefs say GPS tracking darts are a safer alternative to chases. But civil liberties groups say they're an unconstitutional violation of drivers' privacy.

Connecticut police chiefs say GPS tracking darts are a safer alternative to chases. But civil liberties groups say they’re an unconstitutional violation of drivers’ privacy.

This is being deployed nationwide. I caught a glimpse on news while meeting with a client.

  • WoodScientist@lemmy.world
    2·
    7 days ago

    I really don’t get the issue. The lawmakers are saying that these may be illegal because a warrant is required before putting a GPS device on a vehicle.

    But that’s bogus. Those warrant protections apply for ordinary searches, not for immediate emergency situations. If a cop is walking down the street and hears someone screaming and gunshots from the building they’re walking past, they don’t need to get a warrant before entering it. They can just bust the door down.

    These darts aren’t to be used on vehicles as part of ordinary searches. In fact, they’re useless for that, as they doubtlessly make a lot of noise when they hit a vehicle, and they remain prominently visible. This isn’t a covert device that can be used for ordinary searches. Pretty much the only application for these things are active emergency hot pursuits. Those are the exact emergency scenarios that courts have always held provide broad exceptions to search warrant requirements.