Law against non-consensual tracking with GPS devices takes effect Tuesday

MARTIN/INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, Florida — GPS trackers, such as AirTags, can do a lot of good, transmitting your real-time location to loved ones.

However, they can also be used by criminals trying to learn people’s habits, making them an easier target for crimes – or even human trafficking – without the victim even knowing that a tracer has been placed.

“How simple it is now to be able to drop an AirTag in someone’s purse, stick it under their car, put it on their seat, anything like that, just being able to track someone “One is pretty scary,” said Jamie Bond Ciancio, Place of Hope’s director of advancement. “They can follow you and follow you and create a lifestyle, understand the inner workings of your lifestyle.”

Senate Bill 758, which would make using a tracking device without the person’s knowledge a felony charge, takes effect Tuesday.

“We’ve seen a number of cases over the years where domestic issues, where an ex-husband was putting a tracker on the car, we’ve had victims of stalking,” noted Sgt. Kevin Jaworski, who works in the Criminal Investigation Division of the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.

“They may never know.”

“One of the reasons we don’t see it is that a lot of times it goes unnoticed. Some of these devices are so small,” Martin County Sheriff William Snyder said. “If you throw them in the car, how would they ever know? They may never know.

According to the new law, this type of crime will be punishable by imprisonment for up to half a decade.

“It gives us an increased ability to pursue people who are illegally stalking,” said Sergeant Jaworski. “Illegally stalking someone not only violates their individual privacy rights, but it also presents a security issue for that person.”

See also: Lake Worth woman accused of using hotel job to facilitate sex trafficking of minors

Will it work?

Some believe this law will effectively reduce the use of hidden trackers on unsuspecting people.

“Once you see a few cases come out, where people are now charged with a crime, I think once word gets out, I think you’ll see a reduction in those types of cases,” said the sergeant. Jaworski agreed.

“I think it makes people think twice before doing something nefarious,” Ciancio added.

Others aren’t so sure.

“Would someone who wanted to track someone by illegally installing a tracking system think twice? I’m not sure, but I know if we catch them, they’ll get about five years in prison to think about it a lot more than twice,” Sheriff Snyder said.

Despite the change in law, authorities say vigilance remains essential to safety and that anyone who suspects they are being followed or monitored with a tracker to which they have not consented should alert local law enforcement.

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