Once a concept restricted to space-age discussions after the 1957 launch of the first man-made satellite Sputnik, Global Positioning System (GPS) technology has advanced to find a place in the everyday vernacular.

GPS is a location system that is based on the transmissions of 24 satellites orbiting the earth. People use ground-based receivers to capture the radio signals. That data makes it possible to accurately pinpoint the geographic location of a receiver, usually within a few feet.

Originally developed as a military application by the U.S. Department of Defense, GPS tracking is now used in a wide variety of consumer products and is in general use around the world. It is used today to: help catch criminals, teach smart driving habits, cut vehicle fuel and maintenance costs, and protect one’s assets from theft; to name only a few. It seems that every few months or so, someone has thought of a new and inventive way to introduce GPS tracking into our lives, to make it either safer or more convenient.

Many types of people have not only become familiar with GPS tracking, they’ve come to rely on it. Following are some of the top users.

#1 Concerned parents:

After a teen receives his or her driver’s license, the next few years can be worrisome for parents. Distractions from cell phones, peer passengers and iPods can be as damaging to a teen’s driving record as drugs and alcohol. The chances of being cited for a moving violation or being involved in an accident are higher for people in their teens and 20s than any other age group.

Parents, who not only care for, but are legally responsible for their children, are searching for ways to give them freedom without relinquishing control. For many parents, vehicle tracking devices are a way to act on their concern about their teen’s safety, establish expectations about their driving, and ultimately gain peace of mind.

GPS tracking devices let parents check if their teens are speeding, where their teens are driving, and how long they stay at a particular destination. Most people would agree that parents are justified in taking this proactive stance, particularly since the adult usually owns the car and pays the car insurance. Teens could gradually earn more freedoms as the GPS data proves they are trustworthy and safe drivers.

Insurance companies like the idea as well. Some national vehicle insurance companies are now offering discounted premiums to clients who have vehicle tracking systems installed in their vehicles.

#2 Law enforcement:

Police departments have long recognized the benefits of vehicle tracking systems, not only for their own internal purposes, but to monitor suspects and investigate criminal activities.

When placed in squads and other critical response vehicles, GPS tracking units help dispatchers know minute-by-minute where their department vehicles are located, without having to contact the driver. They can have direct connection to laptop computers. And the data is a real time-saver in the incident reporting process.

An important use of vehicle tracking devices from the crime reduction/prevention perspective is for surveillance. GPS tracking units, when covertly mounted on a suspect’s vehicle, can be a police officer’s eyes and ears when not present. Its data, incredibly accurate by time and location, can serve as strong evidence in a court of law.

Laws differ from state to state regarding where and how an officer can place a GPS tracking device on a vehicle. An investigator likely has the right to install a unit on the exterior of a car, truck or van if it is parked in a public place and there is suspicion of illegal action or activity. If agents need to go inside the vehicle to install a GPS tracking device, a warrant usually is needed.

Related posts:

1. GPS Tracking in the Workplace Largely Unregulated
2. Vehicle Tracking