[IP] No expectation of privacy in public? In a pig's eye! (fwd from dave@farber.net)
----- Forwarded message from David Farber <dave@farber.net> -----
Re: the embedded item:
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/storyprint.asp?StoryID=322152
Ruling gives cops leeway with GPS Decision allows use of vehicle tracking device without a warrant
By BRENDAN LYONS, Staff writer First published: Tuesday, January 11, 2005
In a decision that could dramatically affect criminal investigations nationwide, a federal judge has ruled police didn't need a warrant when they attached a satellite tracking device to the underbelly of a car being driven by a suspected Hells Angels operative.
Just out of curiosity, if the man doesn't need a warrent to place a surveilance device, shouldn't it be within your rights to tamper with, disable or remove such a device if you discover one? By extension, is there a business opportunity for bug-sweeping? Either a storefront or a properly equipped pickup truck with bright signage. (oh, yeah... I'm sure *that* would go over well with the Powers That Be) -- Roy M. Silvernail is roy@rant-central.com, and you're not "It's just this little chromium switch, here." - TFT SpamAssassin->procmail->/dev/null->bliss http://www.rant-central.com
At 12:30 PM 1/12/2005, Roy M. Silvernail wrote:
Just out of curiosity, if the man doesn't need a warrent to place a surveilance device, shouldn't it be within your rights to tamper with, disable or remove such a device if you discover one?
Do you mean that if you discover an unsolicited gift of consumer electronics attached to your car, do you have the right to play with it just as you would if it came in the mail? I would certainly expect so... On the other hand, if it appears to be a lost item, you could be a good public citizen and take it to the police to see if anybody claims it... "GPS tracker" is an ambiguous description, though. GPS devices detect where they are, but what next? A device could record where it was, for later collection, or it could transmit its position to a listener. Tampering with existing recordings might have legal implications, but putting a transmitter-based system in your nearest garbage can or accidentally leaving it in a taxi or mailing it to Medellin all seem like reasonable activities. ---- Bill Stewart bill.stewart@pobox.com
participants (3)
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Bill Stewart -
Eugen Leitl -
Roy M. Silvernail