GPS Tracking Dart Used in High-Pursuit Car Chases
6 Mar 2013
Police departments in the US utilize advanced GPS tracking “darts” in high-speed chases.
Most people are no stranger to the high-speed car chases in various locations throughout the US. These high-pursuit car chases are often extremely dangerous to pedestrians, other vehicles, and the police involved in the chase. Many chases involve injuries or death of innocent bystanders. For all of these reasons, there’s an increased need for alternative methods to circumvent these dangerous car chases; and GPS tracking technology is one such alternative.
In the past, high-speed chases weren’t always stopped until the car ran out of gas, hit someone or something that slowed them down, or the police would attempt to side-swipe the vehicle to cause the vehicle to spin and eventually stop. However, with the help of GPS tracking technology, there is now a safer and more effective way to track and stop the car involved in the chase.
How the GPS Tracking Dart Works
Not unlike the futurist gadgets used in the James Bond movies, a GPS tracking dart is being tested by the Los Angeles and Austin police departments, to name a few, where a good majority of high-speed chases happen. The tracking dart is shot via a gun-like device onto the suspect’s vehicle, not so dissimilar as to shooting a bullet out of a gun. The police officer has a laser pointer equipped compressed air-launcher that helps him aim the dart so it can be targeted on a “good spot” (where it will stick and remain intact) on the vehicle where it will stick and remain intact.
The key is that the dart attaches itself to the suspects vehicle. Once in place,the dart provides real-time location data used to be able to track the vehicle. The GPS dart includes a wireless transmitter and battery, as well as an interactive tracking map for the police department to view while the suspect is driving. It tracks all data including location, the types of streets being driven on, and driving speed. Once the vehicle begins slowing or comes to a stop, the transmitter sends an alert.
The Benefits of GPS Tracking Darts
Why does this help? In this new type of GPS vehicle tracking, the darts keeps law enforcement from continuing a high-speed chase in dangerous circumstances, which could possibly cause injuries to innocent pedestrians and other vehicles. Law enforcement simply tracks the vehicle from a nearby remote location and waits until the car slows down or stops. Immediately the police department knows exactly where the vehicle is.
Most high-pursuit car chases involve speeds of over 100 miles per hour, putting everyone at risk. Not to mention multiple police officers are involved in the chase and not protecting the rest of the city. They also cost thousands of taxpayer dollars. With GPS tracking darts, much of this can be avoided.
The tracking darts are made to easily stick to another vehicle and won’t fall off. The suspect wouldn’t be able to remove the dart unless they pull over, stop their car, and get out. By that point, the police is able to apprehend them.
For the increasing number of high-speed car chases, this new use for GPS tracking technology offers a beneficial look at what is in store for the future of law enforcement technology in fighting crime. Several police departments in the US are using the GPS darts, which have proven to be not only effective at tracking the vehicle, but many suspects stop on their accord when they realize their vehicle has been hit with the dart.
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