Currently, law enforcement agencies have at their disposal a number of technological tools that are used during police chases to track and stop a car. These include both widespread solutions such as spike belts, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles, networks, and physical barriers, as well as more modern developments, including GPS tracking systems.

GPS trackers instead of car chases

The use of GPS trackers for remote car tracking in US law enforcement practice

In recent years, United States law enforcement agencies have demonstrated a trend towards the introduction of remote vehicle monitoring technologies, considered as an alternative to traditional police chases. The increased interest in such solutions is due to the significant risks associated with chasing suspects on the roads. Practice shows that such operations often cause traffic accidents, leading to injuries and deaths of both their direct participants and accidental third parties, which, in turn, motivates the search for safer and more controlled approaches to solving the problem.

The use of spiked tapes, a popular means of stopping an offender's car, comes with certain risks. The tape unfolds in front of the car a few seconds before it passes the place where the police are. In an attempt to avoid the tape or after losing control of a car with punctured tires, the offender may collide with other road users, run over pedestrians or police officers who are only a few meters away from the car. In 1996, the first case of death of a police officer while using this tool was recorded, and by the 2020s the total number of such incidents reached several dozen.

SAFE ALTERNATIVES FOR DETAINING AN OFFENDER WHILE DRIVING A CAR

For this reason, solutions based on the use of GPS technologies, in particular the system developed by StarChase, attract special attention. This technology is a complex for remote tracking of the location of vehicles, which provides for the possibility of shooting and fixing a special tag on the car, equipped with a geolocation module - a GPS tracker. After activation the device starts transmitting data about the location of the object in real time, providing continuous monitoring of its movement.

The complex installed on the patrol car includes a control panel located in the cabin, a compressed air supply module installed under the radiator, specialized GPS tags, as well as software operating through a secure web interface with data output to an online map. Additionally, the system is equipped with guidance devices, which allows the police officer to aim without significant distraction from driving the vehicle.

The spread of this technology in the United States is taking place at an accelerated pace. By the mid-2020s, similar systems are being used in about a hundred police departments, and the total number of reported cases of their use is in the tens of thousands. The implementation of the technology is supported both at the level of individual police departments and within the framework of federal funding programs aimed at improving road safety and reducing the number of dangerous police chases.

The police car can keep a safe distance from the vehicle and install a GPS tag on it at any moment of the chase. After attaching the GPS device, the need for a close chase is reduced: police cars can reduce speed while maintaining control. In practice, this often leads to the suspect starting to drive less risky too.

From a legal point of view, the use of GPS devices usually requires a court order. However, in emergency situations, they can be used without prior permission, for example, when a suspect is trying to escape. The assessment of the legality of police actions depends on the specific circumstances.

CONCLUSIONS

GPS trackers are becoming an important element of modern law enforcement practice. They reduce risks while maintaining efficiency and form a safer approach to operational tasks.