How to Tell If the Police Have Put a GPS Tracker on Your Car (and What to Do Next)

There are lots of great ones Used for GPS tracking technology. But tracking technology is quickly forgotten when someone puts one on your stuff without your knowledge – for example the policewhich are increasing Use of these devices to monitor the movements of people involved in investigations (the police can even). Shoot one at a car during a high-speed chase!). Now, if you’re worried about the police tracking your car’s movements, here’s what you need to know.

What the law says about the placement of GPS trackers

It’s 100% legal for the police to place a tracking device on your car without your knowledge – but they must have a warrant giving them permission to do so. This was decided by the Supreme Court United States v. Jones in 2012, which found that an unwarranted GPS device violated the Fourth Amendment’s ban on illegal searches.

However, lawyer Andrew Flusch notes that it happens often very easy for the police They must obtain these warrants, and in some states they can even have judges (who are not judges and sometimes not even lawyers) issue them. This means that the police can probably legally place a GPS tracker on your car even if you’ve done nothing wrong, as long as they’re willing to file the paperwork.

Of course, these trackers are easy to purchase and place for anyone, not just the police. But when you find one, you should be careful with your answer.

Where to look for a GPS tracker?

First, how do you even know if you’re being tracked by one of these devices? Most police departments don’t use Tile or AirTag – they prefer a magnetic tracker that can be quickly attached to the outside of your car. To determine if you are being stalked, start with an exterior inspection. Common places to attach trackers include:

If you don’t see anything from the outside, you should also check the interior. Although this is less likely, it is not impossible that a tracker was placed in the car if the possibility existed. Places to check include:

You’re looking for something that stands out and is easy to remove – these trackers are usually relatively small and encased in black plastic. You can also buy it GPS detectors And “Insect sweeper”, which search for the frequencies these devices use and alert you to their presence.

Steps you should take when finding a GPS tracker

If you spot a GPS tracker on your vehicle, your first instinct may be to remove it. If the device has not been retained by law enforcement, you have every right to remove it – but if it Was If the police place them with an appropriate search warrant, it could be a mistake to remove them. There were cases in which the police only… demanded the return of her device When discovered and removed, there were also cases where police used the removal of these devices as probable cause for further action. For example, in 2018, a man in Indiana discovered and removed a GPS tracker from his car – and police used that distance to do so Get a new arrest warrant To raids his house (where, it should be noted, methamphetamine was found).

Ultimately, the police were found to be in the wrong, and the Indiana Supreme Court ruled that removing the tracker was not theft or probable cause; Evidence collected during the raid was suppressed. But it shows that removing a GPS tracker can trigger unpredictable reactions if it was planted by law enforcement. Since you can’t tell from a tracker who placed it, it’s best to leave it in place and contact an attorney. Your state surrounds GPS trackers (which vary). If you can use an alternative vehicle in the meantime, you should do so.