Police Cars Fitted With Tracking Device Cannon
Making tracking technology ’cool’ and acceptable.Iintelligence agencies have been able to track vehicles and people for decades, often extra-judicially. This new ’canon’ simply brings it to the mainstream.
We’ve pointed out repeatedly that technology is a tool which can be used for good or for bad. While nobody wants to see people hurt during high-speed chases, the potential for abuse of this technology (or any tracking technology) exists, and we need to remain vigilant to retain rights, privacy, and freedoms.More from StoryLeak...
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Police Cars Fitted With Launchable Tracking Device Technology
By Mikael Thalen | StoryLeak
Troopers from the Iowa State Patrol have joined the growing number of departments across the country arming their police cars with a new launchable GPS tracking device, aimed at stopping dangerous police chases.
Referred to as a pursuit reduction technology, the StarChase system launches a miniature GPS tracker from a compressed-air cannon mounted on the police vehicle’s grill. Once attached, an officer can end a pursuit and track the vehicle at a later time.
“After they think the officer has disengaged, they (the suspects) will back down to normal speeds to blend in with traffic, so they don’t get noticed again,” Trooper Tim Sieleman told KCCI News.
The item, usually running as much as $5,000 per unit, uses laser target acquisition to successfully tag one of its two $500 GPS projectiles onto a fleeing vehicle. GPS coordinates relayed through wireless phone networks give officers specific data including the vehicle’s speed and location.
“You get behind a state patrol car and you’re not getting away. You may get away for a little bit, but we will catch you,” Sieleman added.
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