Do Parents Have the Right to Track Their Children?

Famous sisters Ashley and Wynonna Judd were in the news again recently, this time in a scuffle over a GPS tracking device found on Ashley’s car. The device was found by a mechanic, and Ashley told reporters that she believes the device was placed there by Wynonna in an effort to track her daughter, who was driving the car at the time. Although it’s unlikely that charges will be filed, police were still called in to investigate. They have so far been unable to positively identify who placed the GPS tracking unit on the car. It’s unclear how the case will end, but the lessons for the rest of America are clear: make sure you know the laws about GPS tracking.

Why Place a GPS Tracking Device on a Car?

There are several reasons for monitoring your car with a GPS tracking device. The most common reason is to protect your vehicle in the event of a theft. Police officers can quickly track down a car using the unit, making the odds of recovery much greater. A second reason some people opt to equip their cars with one of the little devices is to keep an eye on family members or loved ones. If you do it for safety and with the knowledge of the car’s owner, that can be a great thing. If you’re spying on someone else’s vehicle without his or her permission, you may be in trouble.

What the Law Says About GPS Tracking

Tracking a person’s vehicle without his or her knowledge is, in most cases, a violation of privacy. There are several instances in which the law might step in with regard to placing a tracking unit on a car:

• Law enforcement departments—Most states now require a warrant for a police officer to place a tracking device on a car.


• Private citizens tracking other private citizens—In some states, placing a tracking device on another person’s vehicle is considered a Class C misdemeanor and can result in charges being filed.

There is also currently a federal law being discussed that would regulate real-time tracking as well as gathering data from a GPS unit about a person’s past movements. The law discusses:

Cell phone tracking	Cell phone companies would need the permission of a phone’s owner before sharing location information with another party
Surreptitious tracking	For instance, a boyfriend could not track the movements of his girlfriend without her knowledge
Warrantless tracking	Police would be required to obtain a warrant before gathering location data of any kind from a GPS tracking device

What That Means For Private Citizens

Did Wynonna Judd place a tracking device on her sister’s car in order to track the movements of her daughter? That’s for the courts to decide—and for the family to work out among themselves. Most of us won’t make the news if we find ourselves in a similar situation, but as a parent, you may have considered taking similar action to keep an eye on your son or daughter. The laws governing GPS tracking devices mean that you should find out what is and isn’t permissible in your state before you begin tracking your child. For instance, it may be fine to place a tracking device on your child’s car if you co-signed for it or the title is in your name. However, it may not be acceptable to place a tracking device on a vehicle belonging to your child’s friend.

Many parents who decide to track their teens do so for safety reasons. Some also take the further step of discussing their concerns with their driving-age teenagers and bringing them on board with the decision. In these situations, it’s more likely that the teen will feel better about being tracked than if a parent chooses to track without the teen’s knowledge.

Being Wise With GPS Tracking

Placing a GPS tracking device on another person’s car without his or her knowledge can send the wrong message, even if your intentions are good. In the case of the Judds, one poor decision landed the famous sisters in the news. Without an investigation, police had no way of knowing whether the device was placed on the car by a family member or by a crazed stalker fan.

Although most of us will never find ourselves in the news like the Judds, it’s important that the decision to place a GPS tracking device on a vehicle is carefully considered. GPS tracking can provide an extra measure of safety when used to keep an eye on a teen who is out late, an elderly family member, or a person who travels alone often. However, it’s important that citizens consider the laws in their state and abide by the regulations that have been put in place. If they don’t, they could find themselves facing a fine.

Do Parents Have the Right to Track Their Children?

Crane Army Ammunition Activity Implements GPS Pilot Program

In December 2013, the Greene County (Indiana) Daily World ran an article about a GPS pilot program being implemented in their neighboring region, Martin County.

CC Image courtesy of The U.S. Army on Flickr

The Crane Army Ammunition Activity (CAAA) is one of the US Army’s largest ammunition depots. Located on Naval Support Activity (NSA) Crane, Indiana, the facility serves a variety of functions pertaining to ammunition, including receiving, producing, demilitarizing, and storing ammo. The facility also works with ordnance (i.e., military weapons)—improving and designing and developing ordnance processes and components. CAAA employs over 14,000 people, both civilian and military.

The CAAA Vision Statement reads,

We are and will remain the best producer and supplier of conventional munitions to the fighting ground, sea and air forces. Our commitment to quality will make our customers demand our services above all others. We are committed to continuous measurable process improvement throughout the organization.

They have also crafted a Mission Statement, which reads,

To receive, store, ship, produce, renovate and demilitarize conventional ammunition, missiles and related components to meet contingency requirements in support of the warfighter.

The CAAA base is heavily wooded and covers approximately 100 square miles, making visual location of crews and equipment impossible from headquarters. Therefore, in 2013 the CAAA initiated a GPS pilot program, installing GPS devices in twenty vehicles, enabling the Crane Army Operations Center to track each one of them.

Brief History of Crane Army Ammunition Activity

Although CAAA was initially established in 1977, the history of the site goes back to 1941, when the Crane Naval Ammunition Depot was established. In 1977, CAAA became a “tenant” on the Crane Naval Ammunition Depot (which by then had been renamed Naval Support Activity Crane). Command and control of the center transferred completely to CAAA in 1999.

CAAA’s facilities are quite impressive and include:

• A machine shop that measures over 70,000 square feet


• Over 200 buildings that are dedicated to production


• Nearly 2000 facilities for ammunition storage


• A demolition range and ammunition burning grounds that measure a combined total of approximately 120 acres

Clearly, GPS-enabled vehicles would be a huge benefit to such a large organization, especially considering the vastness of the facility as well as the potentially dangerous nature of the work done there.

CAAA’s GPS Pilot Program

In 2013 CAAA leadership implemented a GPS pilot program, allowing the command center to keep track of all crews and their equipment at all times, day or night. The operations coordinator pointed out that before the implementation of GPS devices, the CAAA had had difficulty locating crews sometimes during unusual weather conditions, such as severe winter weather and tornados. When working over such a large area and with such potentially dangerous materials, being able to locate employees and machines during possible emergencies quickly is of paramount concern—when even seconds can make a huge difference in protecting people’s health and lives.

Because of the expanse of the CAAA and its difficult terrain, CAAA leaders felt a pilot program was necessary—they wanted to be sure before implementing the program that it would work correctly, that there were no “dead spots” on the facility, and that the GPS devices were fully functional. They knew that setting up appropriate infrastructure initially was also of critical importance. Failure on any of these points could negate the usefulness of the program.

The Future of CAAA’s GPS Program

Of course, there are added benefits beyond merely knowing the location of vehicles and crews. Data provided by the GPS devices can be collected and analyzed to gain efficiencies and to help plan for future projects and to design best practices for the military at CAAA and in similar facilities. Analysts can capture and utilize data regarding time each job takes, how much “down time” crews have and why, and require a greater level of accountability from employees. Future work standards can be established as an outgrowth of the data as well.

In December of 2013 the Crane Army Site Manager pointed out that “extraordinary measures” are required to maximize efficiency as the Army looks to the future. GPS devices and technology can help assure that such efficiencies are gained. Army leadership is also hopeful that expenses can be lowered as a result of the technology as well—a very important factor, considering recent cuts to the military’s budget.

Army leaders are hopeful that, if the system is implemented at CAAA, its successes can then be replicated at other government ammo depots across the country. Does the system truly provide safety? Is it worth the expense? Such questions have to be answered fully before the CAAA’s GPS pilot program moves from “pilot” status to full, permanent implementation. CAAA leaders hope that will occur sometime in 2014.

Crane Army Ammunition Activity Implements GPS Pilot Program

Bus Travel is Safer With GPS Tracking

Buses in Malaysia may soon be monitored more effectively for safe driving habits, thanks to GPS tracking. The Land and Public Transport Commission (SPAD) in Malaysia wants the technology to be installed on all public buses so that unsafe driving habits such as disregarding speed limits and traffic laws can be addressed. Currently, only a few of the buses that provide public transportation are equipped with tracking units. Although no law requires bus companies to use the technology, a spokesperson for SPAD said that they hope all companies will cooperate willingly. The buses would be monitored at a central location, making it easier to take action with drivers who are in violation of traffic laws.

How GPS Tracking Helps Fleet Managers

Many fleet managers have already experienced the positive benefits of equipping vehicles with GPS tracking devices. Some of those benefits include:

• More efficient routes—By monitoring the routes drivers take to reach their destinations, managers can determine where inefficiencies occur. They can determine the quickest route to a given destination, helping drivers reach their destinations faster and facilitating more calls or deliveries during the day.


• Identification of inefficient driving habits—Habits like leaving the truck idling while it’s being unloaded at the shipping dock or eating lunch in the truck without turning off the engine can lead to significant fuel waste. GPS tracking can show when a truck is left idling for lengthy periods of time, giving managers the opportunity to retrain for more efficient habits.


• Monitoring of driver adherence to stipulated company policy and traffic laws—GPS tracking allows fleet managers to monitor the speed at which a truck is being driven and to determine whether unauthorized stops or other company policy violations are happening during the day. If drivers know their trucks are being monitored, they will be more likely to comply with stated company policy.


• Protection against theft—One of the most cost-saving benefits of GPS tracking is that it facilitates theft recovery if a vehicle is stolen. Expensive equipment like buses, construction vehicles, and large trucks can cost thousands of dollars to replace and since they are often left unattended at a work site, they make easy targets for theft. GPS tracking gives law enforcement departments the ability to quickly and easily locate the stolen vehicle and apprehend the thief, making it much more likely that the vehicle can be recovered before it is sold or broken down for parts.

Additional Benefits for Bus Companies

GPS = Accountability & Efficiency

Not only does GPS tracking provide the general benefits listed above, but for bus companies, it can also provide benefits specific to the industry. In the United States, many transit companies have already implemented GPS tracking tools such as:

• Monitoring routes for delays—When a bus is equipped with GPS tracking, it’s easy to tell if it’s running on schedule or not.


• Providing real-time updates online—Passengers who need to catch the bus can check a website to see if it’s running on time or if they should expect a wait at the bus stop.


• Protection for school children—School buses may experience delays in the morning, especially in cold weather when the roads are hazardous. GPS tracking lets parents know if the bus is running late and prevents kids from standing at the bus stop for long periods of time in snow or rain.


• Monitoring driver habits—When the lives of passengers are at stake, it’s even more important that drivers scrupulously obey traffic laws. GPS tracking lets bus managers know if a driver is in the habit of speeding or making unsafe stops.

Getting on Board With GPS Tracking

Installing new systems on a large number of vehicles can be an expensive endeavor. However, most fleet managers have reported that GPS tracking devices pay themselves many times over in terms of fuel cost savings and theft prevention. In Malaysia, SPAD reports that the proposal to install the units on public buses has been well-received among most bus company operators. That’s good news for the many people who use public buses every day.

In the United States, criticisms of GPS tracking technology for public transportation often center on its expense, especially when that money comes out of taxpayer pockets. However, by citing the benefits and cost-saving potential of the devices, many cities have successfully received approval to take action.

Whether you’re looking at public bus companies, construction companies, or delivery companies, GPS tracking can make a huge difference in the efficiency of drivers and can also deliver cost savings of thousands of dollars over a relatively short period of time. Choosing to install GPS tracking devices on fleet vehicles isn’t a decision that should be taken lightly; however, it has the potential to save money, improve efficiency, and even save lives by helping managers alter driver behavior in a positive way.

Bus Travel is Safer With GPS Tracking

A Guardian Angel for your Christmas Angel

People steal all kinds of things for all kinds of reasons. Some steal out of necessity, such as to put food on the table. Some steal for the challenge or adrenaline rush: the person who steals not because he needs to, but because he wants to. While both of these reasons are wrong, one has to wonder what is going through the head of someone who steals nativity scene pieces from the local church. While this is usually the result of a prank of some sorts, and hopefully not done out of religious devotion, when it happens, it can really take some of the enjoyment out of the Christmas season for church members. This is where Brickhouse Security has found a little niche in the GPS locating market.

A New Way to Find Jesus

Churches are always looking for new ways to bring Jesus to people, but Brickhouse Security has a novel approach to nativity scene thefts that will help bring Jesus back to the church. During the recent Christmas season, Brickhouse allowed qualifying churches to use their GPS locating devices free of charge to help track down any figurine that disappears due to theft. The device is a small sending unit that is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and can easily be hidden in almost any size nativity scene piece. If the piece shows any movement through the GPS sending unit, a member of the church can be alerted via text message and then the item can be found through GPS tracking.

A More Widespread Problem than You Would Think

While your own church may not have been the victim of this kind of theft, it is not a problem specific to any one location. Apparently, the problem is widespread enough that TV news stations in both New Jersey and Illinois ran reports on the problem. Unfortunately, a precursory Google search for “nativity scene stolen” returns results that show that this problem is occurring coast to coast in America. Hopefully, as more people find out about the possibility of GPS devices being located in the nativity scene statues, the number of thefts will go down. Unfortunately, if no one knows about this, they might be able to find the thieves, but it will not prevent the thefts from happening in the first place.

Nativity Scene Thefts in the News for 2013
Location	Item Stolen
Modesto, CA	Baby Jesus
Springfield, MO	Baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph
Lincoln, NE	Baby Jesus
Basking Ridge, NJ	Baby Jesus
Olympia, WA	Baby Jesus
St. Joseph, MN	Baby Jesus
Long Island, NY	Wise Men

You LoJack your car, so why not…

There are many GPS tracking devices out there, from LoJack to tracking your child through a wristwatch. There are many benefits to tracking your possessions. As mentioned above, people steal things for a variety of reasons. Whether you LoJack your car or laptop, there is a definite piece of mind that comes from know that your belongings can be tracked if they turn up missing. The same is true for nativity scene statues and figurines. These are important items for any church during the Christmas season, and losing the use of these statues has the ability to take something out of the Christmas season for the church goers and community.

The Technology is There

GPS tracking devices have become much more reliable over time and their prices are coming down to allow them to become more common. There are many different varieties of tracking devices that can be used for a variety of reasons. Almost anything you own that you want to keep track of can be tracked by a small GPS tracking device. They can now be used to keep tabs on your teenage children as they drive off in the family car. They can be used to locate your child when they get lost in the mall. They can be used to track your iPad if someone walks off with it. There are so many uses and ways to keep tabs that it is easy to see that GPS tracking will only continue to grow in its uses and availability in the coming years.

With all that is available with GPS tracking, it was only a matter of time before it was being used for something as simple as tracking stolen nativity scene pieces. The lesson here is that the next time you have an urge to play a prank on your local church, you might want to think twice before you walk off with Joseph or one of the wise men. As the Reverend Smith said in a news interview, “Of course God knows where they are, but now maybe we have a better chance to know as well.” With the GPS tracking, that knowledge for us is more certain.

A Guardian Angel for your Christmas Angel

Geocaching Is the New Hiking

In a simpler time, families spent quality time together outdoors. Parks around the country cleared hiking trails, routes into the depths of the forests and to the summits of mountains. During summer vacations and on weekends, you could find thousands of families walking these trails, talking to one another and marveling at the beauty of nature. Today, however, these trails are largely silent, and any families you see walking them are likely to contain at least one member who is glued to the screen of a phone or other device.

How can we get our kids (and their parents!) back into nature? It’s much more convenient and less tiring to simply plop down in a movie theater seat and spend two hours “with the family.” And most kids would be happier playing a new video game all weekend than walking through a forest filled with bugs and dirt. Hiking may not be a major draw for families any more, but another activity is quickly gaining the attention of even the most technology-hooked couch potatoes: Geocaching.

A Fad that Doesn’t Feel Like a Fad

Geocaching takes the “mission” aspect of video games and places it in the great outdoors. Accomplishing geocaching goals feels even better than beating tough game levels, and it deviously forces participants to get some great exercise while they do it. Here are the basics of geocaching, although many specific games include their own variations:

• Players are given latitude and longitude coordinates, which they must find in order to locate a hidden item.


• It is legal (and encouraged) to use a GPS tracking device to pinpoint the item’s location.


• The hidden item is usually a container with a logbook, in which the player can record his success in finding it.


• The container may also contain a token or a code, which the player uses to receive a prize.

Geocaching is catching on like wildfire, but you won’t hear about it often in the mainstream news. Participants love the feeling that they are engaging in an activity that the general public is unaware of. There’s something very exciting about following your GPS tracker to a vacant lot in a suburban area, ignored by most people passing by, and finding a geocache hidden under a loose rock.

A related idea to geocaching is the concept of a video game that uses real-life GPS data. Some games feature a virtual world that is closely related to the portion of the real world that the player lives in. Surrounding buildings, lakes, and other features might take on different identities in the game, opening opportunities as the player travels to the real-life locations. This kind of experience is not as outdoors-focused as geocaching, however.

A Great Example

The state of Oregon claims to be the birthplace of geocaching, and is still a hotspot for the activity. The Metro park system in Portland has launched a complex geocaching game that is expected to last for quite some time. The geocaches, hidden in meaningful spots within the parks, educate players about nature and history as they find them. After collecting codes from all the caches, victorious players claim their prize—a commemorative coin—at the park headquarters. 450 coins are available, for the first 450 intrepid geocaching adventurers who complete the quest. The similarities to a great video game plot are unmistakable, but this adventure takes place in the real world!

Here are some similar recent projects that communities have used to introduce geocaching to people:

Ashland, KY	Single-day event with 15 geocaches	Raises awareness for obesity and the Ashland downtown area
Anoka County, MN	2-3 mile route, held in the middle of winter	Aims to get kids outdoors
Alderney, U.K.	40 geocaches hidden on the island of Alderney	Project to attract tourists
Joondalup, Australia	Geocache trail designed by high school students	Draws attention to park and educates students about the environment

 

If you have been fighting the uphill battle to convince kids (or even your spouse) to get off the couch and take a walk outdoors, geocaching might just be the motivation you need. Check to see if there is a geocaching trail or event near your home, and the next weekend could see your family catch the geocaching bug. Before long, your kids might be pestering you to travel farther afield to take on greater quests.

Encouraging Outdoor Fun: Another Benefit of GPS

Too often, fitness advocates try to separate technology from nature and outdoor activities. There is a time to put down the devices and look around us, but perhaps a better approach is the one embraced by geocaching: combining technology with exercise, adventure, exploration, and fun in the great outdoors. After all, what other tool can convince a video game lover to spend hours hiking through the woods again?

Geocaching Is the New Hiking

GPS Tracking Proves Justin Bieber Was Not Drag Racing

Here at the RMT blog, we’ve reported dozens of stories of ways that GPS technology is used to aid in police investigations. GPS tracking can be used to find a lost or stolen valuable. It can be used to catch an employee stealing time and gas. It can be used to track convicted criminals at risk for repeat offenses. Sometimes, the technology can even be used to vindicate the falsely accused. According to TMZ, new GPS tracking records might provide evidence that Justin Bieber was not drag racing proceeding his high-profile arrest.

CC Image courtesy of BiebersPartyUSA on Flickr

Ever since Justin Bieber’s first hit, “Baby” hit the radio waves, the public has been fascinated by the boy wonder. He started posting videos on Youtube of his musical talents at a very young age. He was soon discovered by music executives and mentored by R&B super-star Usher. The public adored him, and he quickly gained a fan-base that rivaled the likes of Elvis Presley and The Beatles. In recent years, however, his adolescent antics have garnered a lot of scrutiny and criticism, costing him fans and credibility.

Being a teenager is rarely graceful. There is an inherit recklessness and narcissism during the transitional stage of life, when we are developing our unique, adult identities. Growing up in the public eye, with millions of fans, and more than a handful of dangerous fanatics and vicious critics, the drama and stress during this time period seems to be exacerbated. Even while he was young and a new celebrity, people were already predicting that the amount of fame afforded the young Canadian musician could have tragic consequences.

None of this is to excuse people like Justin Bieber when they are a danger to themselves or to the public. Recently, Bieber has been charged on a number of incidents. The first major offense occurred when his Calabasas neighbor filed charges when Beiber allegedly egged his home, causing thousands of dollars in damages. Egging a house seems pretty juvenile and harmless, but because of the amount of damage allegedly caused by the egging, the charges would amount to a felony. Apparently egging your suburban neighbor’s home is a lot less expensive than egging a multi-million dollar mansion.

The more recent, and much more serious, charge against Beiber claims that the young singer was drag racing a rented Lamborghini while under the influence. Clearly, this is a very reckless act. We recently lost a young talented actor, Paul Walker, in a tragic drag racing accident. Many people are understandably outraged by the charges, and even petitioned to have Bieber deported on the grounds that he is a terrible influence on the youth of America, and that he poses a danger to the general public.

CC Image courtesy of LiLJaiiY on Flickr

Many of his fans have stuck by the Biebs and vow to support him during these difficult times. Others have expressed sympathy and concern for what could be seen as a cry for help. The loudest and most popular opinion, however, seems to be vitriol and disgust with the celebrity’s behavior. And this is where it might get a little embarrassing for these people. GPS technology and a breathalyzer have proven most of the claims of the arresting officers to be false.

Miami beach police accused Justin Bieber and a friend of racing at speeds of 50 to 60 miles per hour. On it’s own, those are pretty low speeds for a drag race, but still technically speeding in a 30 mph zone. However, GPS records were recently released that showed Justin’s Lamborghini was only going 27 mph in the stretch of road that cops supposedly observed the vehicle speeding. In fact, the GPS data shows that the Lamborghini maxed out at 44 mph, just after leaving a Miami Beach night club at 4:07 am. According to these records, the drag racing charges could easily be contested.

The GPS tracking data collected from the Escalade, Justin Bieber’s dad allegedly used to block traffic to facilitate the drag race, also contradicts the officer’s accusations. According to the GPS, the Escalade was parked outside the club until 4:06 am, and never stopped moving until Beiber was arrested. This suggests that the Escalade was never used to block traffic.

According to the arresting officers, Bieber reeked of alcohol when he was pulled over. However, a breathalyzer showed that his blood-alcohol level was at 0.014, which happens to be below the legal limit in Florida for a person under 21 years of age. So, by this account, both of the charges Bieber was arrested for were proven false. However, he’s not off the hook just yet. The pop star is still in deep water for resisting arrest, and for admitting to the police that he was under the influence of marijuana and prescription pills.

GPS Tracking Proves Justin Bieber Was Not Drag Racing

Federal Law Regarding GPS Tracking Of Autistic Children Debated

Even if you aren’t the parent of an autistic child, you probably know someone with autism, whether a family member, friend, or colleague. Autism touches the lives of so many, it’s almost impossible not to know someone touched by the disorder, which can wreak havoc on everyone within the family. One problem these families face is the issue of wandering from home. How do you feel about the idea of autistic children being tracked with a GPS tracking device? Most people would agree that as long as the parents of that child approve, it is a great idea to ensure their safety.

What if I told you the federal government is proposing a plan where they will pay for your autistic child’s GPS tracking device? That’s right, Senator Chuck Schumer has proposed legislation named after the 14-year-old New York City boy, Avonte Oquendo, who was reported missing by his school a few months back and eventually found dead in a river. Do you still think it’s a good idea if the federal government is footing the bill?

Avonte’s Law

The law is named after Oquendo, and as it stands currently, it would offer $10 million total in order to fund the GPS tracking devices for autistic children. The devices could either be in bracelet form, slipped inside a backpack or wallet, or even sewn directly into the child’s clothing.

Avonte Oquendo was seen on surveillance video walking out the front doors of his school in Queens last October. After an extensive search, his body was sadly discovered in early January in the East River. An estimated 200 people turned out to mourn his passing at his funeral. It is still unclear what led to his death, but investigators are hard at work trying to determine that.

Senator Schumer, in a press conference held in his office in Manhattan with Avonte’s mother and grandmother by his side, said, “We can’t change the past, but we can take necessary steps to ensure we learn from this and put in place programs that will ensure that no parent and no child has to go through a similar nightmare in the future.”

A Growing Problem

Statistics published in a 2012 study conducted by the journal Pediatrics estimate that about half of America’s population of autistic children wander often, and over 60 autistic children have died since 2008 as a result of wandering. 90 percent of those who died wandering have drowned, according to the National Autism Association.

Autism advocate groups have been working hard to call attention to the issue of wandering. How big of an issue is it? The study indicates that about half of parents that have autistic children had received no advice from anyone, including professionals, on how to deal with the problem. However, most experts who are aware of the problem know that the best way to prevent wandering is by employing the use of a GPS tracking device.

“Lord knows, if we had known within a matter of minutes where this boy was when he had walked out in a school, we might not be here,” said an attorney for Avonte’s family, David Perecman, speaking for the family. “Never again.”

The Future For The Proposal

Schumer said he plans to introduce the legislation next Monday. It’s a lot like a similar program that has worked well for those battling Alzheimer’s, relying on an alert system the user programs via web interface. When a person with Alzheimer’s wanders, the GPS device they are wearing sends out an automatic call for police to respond quickly in order to keep them safely close to home. The GPS devices they plan to rely on will cost an estimated $85 plus associated monthly fees according to Senator Schumer. They have already proven worthwhile by the hundreds of families who have been using them without federal funding.

The executive director of Autism Speaks, Michael Rosen, was present for Schumer’s press conference, 26-year-old autistic son Nicky by his side. Rosen said that when Nicky was younger, “he would race across the street to a neighbor’s living room…and he’d end up all of a sudden tearing apart their living room, or he’d be across the street on a roof because he was attracted to heights. You can’t turn your back for one second.”

There is much support from autism advocacy groups, and with one in 88 American children being diagnosed somewhere on the autism spectrum in 2008, it’s easy to see why. Rosen blames the increase on a variety of factors, like more awareness, advances in medicine leading to better diagnoses, and learning about the different variations of autism.

This simple measure could save many lives all over the country, and restore peace of mind to many a frazzled, worried parent of a child with autism. How do you feel about the issue? Do you think this would be a bad idea for a federal government to get involved with, or is it vital to protecting the lives of children who don’t know any better? Let us know, comment below!

Federal Law Regarding GPS Tracking Of Autistic Children Debated