Police use car's GPS to track hit-and-run suspect

Interesting (or chilling depending on perspective) precedent being set...To sum up the back story, police had a suspect in a hit-and-run killing who was driving a Benz...Police went to M-B and wanted them to use the company's GPS roadside assistance system to track him down; which they steadfastly refused to do...Police also went to the manufacturer of the GPS system, who did cooperate...

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Police: We're Closing In On Hit-And-Run Suspect

(CBS) GLENDALE, Calif. Glendale police believe they are closing in on a driver wanted in connection with a hit-and-run crash that killed a 24-year-old woman, a spokesman said Monday.

The driver, identified as Ara Grigoryan, 20, of Glendale, was identified last week as a "person of interest" in the Tuesday night death of Elizabeth Sandoval.

The car involved in the crash was found Saturday, and work had already been done on the vehicle in an apparent attempt to disguise the damage, said Officer John Balian of the Glendale Police Department.

"Hopefully we will have some news on where he is," Balian said. "I think we are very close."

The vehicle, a 2003 four-door Mercedes-Benz S430, was found Saturday near a Van Nuys body shop.

Balian said police received a call on Saturday from ATX, a GPS location company employed by Mercedes-Benz of America, a New Jersey-based firm.

more at link
http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_197223237.html

discussion at autoblog as well
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/17/mercedes-refuses-to-activate-gps-in-suspects-car/

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and be done with it.

:sarcasm:

.

FBI has already admitted listening to people by
using their cell phones as bugs. Every current
current cell phone was designed to do that...
even if you think you have it turned off.

Orwell thought SMALL.

Beyond that, almost all my purchases are cash only, I won't even think of EZpass. I haven't trusted my government or business's for a long time, but the last six years have only increased that feeling.

Owners are told about it up front. Hell, it's in the car because owners want it. If you then murder someone suddenly it's bad the cops use it to find you/your car? I don't think so. This is after the crime (murder/manslaughter), so it's certainly not an invasion of privacy now is it? This sets no precedent whatsoever.