JCH-NACA Animal Control Officer Practice Test

True or False: Attaching a GPS tracking device to a suspect car requires a court ordered search warrant.

1. True

2. False

3. Depends on the situation

4. Only if the vehicle is moving

The correct answer is: True

Attaching a GPS tracking device to a suspect's vehicle typically requires a court-ordered search warrant because it is considered a form of surveillance that infringes upon an individual’s reasonable expectation of privacy. The legal principle revolves around the Fourth Amendment, which protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. In many jurisdictions, placing a tracking device on a vehicle without obtaining a warrant can be seen as an unlawful search. This is due to the potential for ongoing tracking that could reveal a lot about an individual’s movements, habits, and personal life, which would generally necessitate a higher standard of justification that a warrant provides. Circumstances may vary based on specific laws and legal precedents in different jurisdictions, which is why the choice indicating that it depends on the situation often arises. However, without clear and specific legal exceptions that would allow circumventing the warrant requirement, the standard practice is to secure a warrant before proceeding with such surveillance actions.