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Comment by joering2 | Hacker News Reader

police/fbi was caught lying many times before. I dont think stop using GPSes is an option for them. Any idea from a layer standpoint what would happen if they still track a car with GPS and this is proven? can someone be liable or is it just going to be a slap on the wrist, some one-page document saying "kindly please stop because you were told to by supreme court" ? what kind of law works against FBI?

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The evidence gathered from the GPS and any evidence gathered as a result of that evidence would be thrown out of court. It becomes fruit of the poisoned tree[1]. I think most police agencies would be very careful to not risk having all evidence gathered while the accused car is nearby thrown out.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit_of_the_poisonous_tree

It is more likely that the police would press their luck against a suspect who does not know his rights and cannot afford lawyer. A high socioeconomic class suspect is less interesting to the FBI.

most police work nowadays is mouse and cat play. I can foresee them still using those devices but just not using them as a proof in court.

example. you put gps and track some narcotics dealer to a place where they exchange the stuff. you caught everyone. you go in front of the judge, he asks you: how did you know where to find them, do you tracked them by gps [just adding here i know this wont play this way], - no, judge, we just had anonymous tip coming through our hot line.

make sense?

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