Police Use Cell Phone and Nav Data to Spy on Drivers

There was talk a year ago about using EZPass (auto toll paying units) to give speeding tickets to drivers who passed 2 tolls at a higher than speed limit moving average. People need to stand up for their rights and boycott all companies that try to sell them out to the government/police/etc.

None of this is surprising, really. There are sooooo many ways to use all of the technology already out there to easily keep tabs on us...beyond even cell phones and such. That's why I keep the google cookies and gps functions turned off in my smart phone (assuming that doing that will actually turn them off!).

@g0tcuddly

I have heard people say this before. If the time it takes you to get between two tolls averages more than the speed limit you get a ticket. I don't know of any places that have done this, but it is definately possible.

" "only if a search warrant is obtained or if the person possessing the mobile device gives consent." What would you say if a cop asked you to hand over your phone?"

Worded something like: "you can either let me see it or we can sit here and wait while I get a search warrant issued"

I do love my old 'dumb' phone :)

They're called maps, people. They still sell good ones at truck stops and book stores. And they don't keep track of where you've been or how fast you got there.

@jlh3:

New Jersey Turnpike.

I've heard stories dating back to the early 2000s about this happening. The one that got local media attention, that I remember, was a guy who made it from toll booth A to toll both B averaging like 90mph. I think he should be given some props, not a ticket. Thats not easy to do on the Turnpike unless its 3am.

Why the heck are the Michigan State Police asking for your cell phones? Are they now enforcing the FCC?

License, registration, and proof of insurance is all they should be asking for!

This is just another reason to not live in Michigan. Crime, cold weather, high unemployment, and high taxes were not enough. Now they go all 1984 on you. I think I will stay in the south.

Michigan police officers have no business collecting all the information on your cell phone during a routine traffic stop. Lack of privacy with today’s technology is getting really out of control. It’s gotten so bad that I recently had to throw my once harmless Roku in the trash because they did a patch that pointlessly required me to give them my credit card number!

I don’t use products that have privacy agreements that essentially states that I have no privacy. Maybe if more consumers took an active interest in their personal information, we might see some improvement. I wish that more people cared about this issue.

Hey its only one more loss of your civil liberties....thats ok, I just have to post on IL and Facebook every five minutes! And god forbid I would have to look at a map or find an Indian food joint in a phonebook! Yep my liberties mean nothing as long as I can have my toys.

What will it take for Americans to get their heads out of their butts and realize that the amount of information they release about themselves and the Government is gathering is DANGEROUS to our liberty?

maybe you guys missed the part where they still need a warrant. Know your rights and you won't be taken advantage of.

Exactly. Though it's warrant or consent. People get confused / scared around cops and quickly forget that they have rights.
-mm

The problem is that too many people don't even think about it. I'm glad this article was posted. If at least one person who didn't realize what the government is capable of reads this and becomes more vigilant, it is a victory for freedom and for America.

I have not had a lot of run-ins with the police or government entities in general. On every occasion except one, the government agent didn't abuse his power, but in all other cases there was fabricated evidence, incorrect conclusions, shoddy investigation, and just plain laziness. One cop told me that he didn't know what happened (I was rear-ended, but the guy who hit me said I stopped short) so he was going to issue several citations, take my license, and "let the courts decide". The local department said I could not file a complaint. In another case -- one I've been fighting for over a year -- a government agent blatantly fabricated evidence and cherry-picked testimony given in good faith in order to write a condemning report. Upon administrative appeal, that report was upheld by an equally biased administrative law judge. Now it's into circuit court where the burden of proof is on me, since the presumption is that the government acted in good faith. So now I'm broke, family's torn apart, fighting an overwhelming uphill battle against government prejudice and abuse. I can't stop fighting because then I lose. I can't continue fighting because I have no more money. This, my friends, is what the government can do to people. Don't ever stop questioning the government. Don't ever become complacent. Because the minute you do, somebody will take advantage of you and destroy your life.

Hang in there GP....keep fighting! You know as well as I do that the techi-boobs that pooh pooh things like this are just burying their collective heads in the sand.

"Exactly. Though it's warrant or consent. People get confused / scared around cops and quickly forget that they have rights.
-mm '

Where is the consent for Apple to keep all of this info on you? Do they have a warrant to violate your privacy? Give me a break. Americans are too in love with their toys to realize they are being violated without the kiss that goes with it.

Only an idiot would hand over their cell phone, computer, etc to the Police without a proper search warrant being produced.

Just say NO!

You ABSOLUTELY have the right to refuse consent. License and registration only. No to everything else. Exercise your rights. The 4th and 5th Amendments protect YOU!

Cops love to go fishing and look for easy pickings. Don't be a dumb fish.

Know your rights and don't let cops intimidate you.

"Only an idiot would hand over their cell phone"

BS many people would...being an idiot has nothing to do with it. Many people are good citizens that do whatever police tell them too. More like you are an idiot to use one of these phones without dis-abling the spy feature.

I blame Apple far more than the police.....who in the hell is Apple to spy on its customers? If any Apple users had any guts they would get rid of or at least call or write Apple to tell them how disgusting this practice is. There is nothing that you cant live without that your phone has...except maybe the actual PHONE.

Bodyblue is right. Numerous studies show that all you have to do is give someone a uniform or a lab coat and otherwise sensible people fall right in line to follow their orders. We have some built-in affinity for authority.

Sure they'd need to get a warrant if you actually said no, but the ability to make you sit and wait while they get it if they really want to ruin your day is almost as bad. Either way, whether they get it or not, th citizen is harmed.

Body, I don't use one of the newfangled GPS enabled phones. And Shirley you didn't mean to call me an idiot.

@ BB

In the name of all that is holy how many times do I have to tell you, Apple gathers the information for the GPS related apps on the iPhone! Google Maps as well as all the other location-based applications. Android does the same thing, so you can get pissed at Google too. When you first start up and set up an iPhone/Android you agree to let Apple/Google access your location in order for use of GPS-based apps.

But of course I'm typing this on my beloved Mac, so I imagine Mr. Jobs is aware that I'm commenting here on IL.

As for the Michigan cops, this is a good thing, because this means that they have solved all the assaults, robberies, rapes, murders, and other crimes and have a lot of time on their hands to search people's phones.

Ok, sadly and honestly I would more than likely hand over my cell phone. I have nothing condeming on the thing, I just want it back fairly quickly (within 30 min). They can fabicate things on the phone sure if thats your fear, but when it comes right down to it your cellphone company is tracking you. They have data on everything coming in and leaving your phone. Didnt buy a GPS enabled phone, they still know about where you are so it doesnt matter.

Certain rights ill fight over, but not this as its not worth being held up while they get the OK. If they want to check your cell phone they will the easy way or the hard way. You pick.

In the end its a cellphone, and end the end its one of the most commonly lost devices that we own. So if your so affraid of whats on your phone I hope to god you delete the illegal stuff or check every single time you can to make sure it wasnt stolen or lost.

Now company phone, well ill grant you that one because its not yours.

There's only one solution for the people who think that technology is the root of all evils, get rid of your house, your car, everything that was invented by man, find the nearest cave, and live like a caveman for a while. That seems to be the only way for some people to see, like Audi said, that Progress is Beautiful.

Did anybody actually read the article, the phones are only taken with a warrant or "consent." They don't stick a gun in your face and force you to give up your phone.

@htr_hardtech, you sir is what is wrong with this country. The 4th amendment not worth fighting for? This is really saddening.

"In the name of all that is holy how many times do I have to tell you, Apple gathers the information for the GPS related apps on the iPhone! Google Maps as well as all the other location-based applications. Android does the same thing, so you can get pissed at Google too. When you first start up and set up an iPhone/Android you agree to let Apple/Google access your location in order for use of GPS-based apps."

Team.....in the name of all that is holy have you read anything about this issue? It stores far more than what are you talking about! Read up on what you are commenting on, buddy.

"Body, I don't use one of the newfangled GPS enabled phones. And Shirley you didn't mean to call me an idiot. "

Call me Shirley one more time and I neuter your "Dawg" :)

@ BB

Enlighten me with some links Shirley, and no you can't neuter my dawg as I don't have one. :)

Seriously, though, when you first turn the iPhone on, in the terms and conditions (or whatever they call it) you agree to allow Apple to track your location for GPS and location-based apps. If you have knowledge to the contrary, please feel free to point me in the right direction.

The government seizing any of my personal property without a warrant is absolutely unacceptable. I don't care what laws any State of the Feds may have, if this is allowed then the law authorizing it is unconstitutional, simple as that.

@saturn: "Did anybody actually read the article, the phones are only taken with a warrant or "consent." They don't stick a gun in your face and force you to give up your phone."

The government has ways to make your life miserable if you don't do what they want you to do... in this case, if you don't give them consent to search your personal property. Wasting your time waiting for a warrant -- or for a judge to say hell no -- is just a minor inconvenience.

@lostboyz

4th ill give ya, but im not going to argue on a phone. Ive lost plenty of phones in my day, who knows what happened to them and who looked all all the text messages and contacts on my contact list.

What did they gain from me, I have a lot of spam mail, I like to order from newegg a lot, and monster.com sends a lot up updates. As for text messages I am fairly boring, most consist of "Hey wanna do lunch" the rest are "Get food". Finely for contacts I have list of friends, co-workers, and family.

Now the Govt and everyone else on this forum knows the sweet sweet details of my phone. Like I said I dont care if someone looks at my phone. In the end I have to feel ok with losing the thing, and how ever finding it reading everything anyways.

Now if ya wanna search my house ill ask for a warrant, as I have private bits in a house like 99% of other people do. Want to search my car, go ahead let me know if you find any old food that slipped under the car seat. Because yet again I have to assume someone could break into my car and take the car or everything in it.

So dont tell me i am whats wrong with this country, some things are dumb to fight over when anyone in the world could end up seeing it anyways if you lost it. Get over it, its a phone. Now if they wantted a work phone I would ask for a warrent or my bosses approval.

lostboyz says:

"@htr_hardtech, you sir is what is wrong with this country. The 4th amendment not worth fighting for? This is really saddening."

+ infinity

"Maybe if more consumers took an active interest in their personal information, we might see some improvement. I wish that more people cared about this issue. "

This would preclude the use of the majority of Google products.