Is it illegal to put a tracker on someones car without them knowing

Apple AirTags are intended to give people a way to keep track of things they often misplace, like wallets and keys. But increasingly, those small tracking devices are being used to stalk people and commit other crimes, and legislators want to make that illegal. 

“There’s all kinds of great uses of this technology of tracking — your packages, your furniture being shipped across the country, seeing your family on Find My Friends — but what happens with good inventions if people start using them for things other than good,” said Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester). 

Moriarty is sponsoring a bill (A1549) that would make it a fourth-degree crime to use a tracking device on someone without their consent. No statute currently exists that makes tracking a crime, he said. 

The Apple AirTag is a $29 disc about the size of a quarter that can be attached to nearly anything and tracked through an iPhone. Since their launch in 2021, police say AirTags and similar devices have been used for nefarious reasons, like tracking young women. Police have also reported instances of car theftsusing AirTags. 

In January, New Jersey State Police warned local police officers the tracking devices could pose an “inherent threat to law enforcement, as criminals could use them to identify officers’ sensitive locations,” according to ABC News.

Apple issued a statement in February saying incidents of Airtag misuse are “rare” but that the company is working with law enforcement to help guard against unwanted tracking.

Moriarty’s measure exempts tracking devices used by law enforcement agencies or by parents and guardians tracking their own children. 

The bill is up for a vote in the Assembly Law and Public Safety Committee Monday. Moriarty is urging lawmakers to pass the bill before the problem becomes more prevalent in New Jersey. 

“In the last couple of months, people have come forward, especially young women, that said they were being tracked and had no idea who was doing it. They found it in their purse or on their car, and that’s alarming enough,” he said.

Six other states — California, Hawaii, Florida, Minnesota, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Virginia — have similar laws prohibiting the use of tracking devices to find someone’s location without their consent. Seven states, including Connecticut and New York, include location tracking under the state’s stalking laws, and nine states ban installing tracking devices on vehicles without the owner’s consent.

Under New Jersey’s bill, people convicted of using a tracking device to know where another person is without their consent would face 18 months in prison and a maximum $10,000 fine.

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It’s difficult to say how many stalkers and other crooks watch their victims with hidden GPS devices. On January 13, 2009, the US Department of Justice revealed data on criminal stalking for the first time.

According to the survey, stalkers employed technological surveillance in 1 out of every 13 cases, and nearly a third of victims said their stalker followed them around everywhere they went.

Many experts believe that since the DOJ released its study, the practice of tracking a victim’s location has only grown. Do you have such an experience? Are you wondering who is following your vehicle and can a GPS tracker be traced to its owner? In this post, we’re here to assist you to find the answer。

How Can I Figure Out Who Installed a Gps Tracker on My Car?

The first step in tracing a GPS car tracker to the owner is to ascertain whether the tracker is passive or real-time. It’s practically hard to figure out who bought the tracker because passive GPS trackers don’t require any membership payments and many don’t even have serial numbers.

The good news is that the majority of individuals do not utilize passive devices, preferring instead to use real-time GPS trackers that they can monitor from their phones.

Because the tracker must transmit data through cellular networks, almost all live GPS tracking systems require a monthly subscription (data plan).

Thus the tracker’s owner must have a credit card on file to cover the monthly payments. Not to add that practically all real-time GPS trackers include serial numbers that allow the manufacturer to activate the gadget. This is where you can find out who installed the tracker on your car!

After you’ve removed the tracker from your car and confirmed that it’s a real-time GPS tracker by looking at the serial number, the next step is to figure out who made it. This will necessitate some investigation on your part.

The first place you should look is Amazon, as this is where the majority of consumers buy their goods. To learn what products are available, simply Google “live GPS tracker” or “hidden GPS auto tracker.”

Simply seek a gadget that appears similar to the one you have. Once you know the tracker’s brand name, you should be able to figure out who made it, or at the very least some resellers who can guide you on the right path.

After you’ve worked out the tracker’s brand name and who made it, the next step is to track down the owner. This means you’ll phone the manufacturer, give them the serial number of the concealed GPS tracker, and then

  • 1) ask for the service to be promptly terminated
  • 2) ask for the billing or shipping address of the person who bought the tracker.

With that information, you’ll be able to figure out who installed the GPS tracker on your vehicle.

4 Simple Steps To Find Out Who Installed A GPS Tracker On Your Car

  1. Check the serial number on the tracker.
  2. Look up the tracker’s brand name on Amazon or Google.
  3. Contact the device’s maker or any resellers who might have such information.
  4. Give the manufacturer the device’s serial number and inquire about who bought it.

Final Thought: What to Do If You Suspect You Are Being Tracked?

We’re not trying to scare you into thinking someone is following you around with a GPS tracker. Although the use of technology tools, such as GPS, to conduct crimes such as stalking is on the rise, your chances of being stalked are likely to be slim.

We believe that GPS technology is a useful tool for ensuring the safety of people, vehicles, and assets. If you’re afraid that someone is following you without your awareness, this article will help you investigate your vehicle.

Please contact your local law enforcement department if you believe you are being monitored illegally.

How Can I Tell If My Car Is Being Tracked?

An easy way is to check the car parts. Put a mat underneath your car and slide in. Using the flashlight, check for any suspicious device such as a small box, taped object, and mini antenna.

Basically, anything that doesn’t look like part of your car. It’s best to bring the car manually with you for reference.

Can You Track Someone’s Car Without Them Knowing?

As of now, here’s what private citizens need to know about GPS tracking and the law: It’s generally legal to use a GPS tracking device if you or your organization own the vehicle or asset to be tracked. You own the asset that might be taken without your permission.

How Do I Block a Gps Tracker on My Car?

You can use a GPS blocker to block your tracker. Here’s how to do it.

  1. Find a GPS blocker that fits your needs and budget.
  2. For car blockers, plug the device into the car’s cigarette lighter, it will activate the blocker, making you invisible to GPS monitoring systems.
  3. When not in use, you can also choose to deactivate your tracker.

Is There an App to Detect a Gps Tracker?

“Tracker Detect gives Android users the ability to scan for an AirTag or supported Find My enabled item trackers that might be traveling with them without their knowledge.”

Since the launch of Tracker Detect yesterday, the app’s page on the Google Play Store has been flooded with negative reviews.

What Happens When You Unplug a Car Tracker?

When unplugged, the unit will automatically send an alert to the management app, allowing the fleet manager to take action to track the vehicle.

Does a Tracking Device Need Power?

Like hardwired systems, Plug and Play GPS trackers get their power from your vehicle’s electrical system, so they don’t require batteries either.

But there’s no need for professional installation. Read more here about can a GPS tracker work without a battery.

How Long Will a Wireless Gps Tracker Last?

When many manufacturers are doing wireless GPS trackers, they actually combine the needs of the industry, and the average service life is three years.

Therefore, in normal use, the user usually uses it for 3 years. If the frequency is higher or improperly used, the service life of the positioner will be shortened.

Can I find out who put a tracker on my car?

4 Simple Steps To Find Out Who Installed A GPS Tracker On Your Car. Check the serial number on the tracker. Look up the tracker's brand name on Amazon or Google. Contact the device's maker or any resellers who might have such information.

Can you go to jail for putting a tracker on someone's car UK?

Yes and no, depending on how you use the GPS tracker. Tracking someone else's car without their consent is definitely illegal. However, if you track what's yours or inform your employees of the installation in a business fleet and safeguard the data collected as per the law, it's legal.

How can you tell if someone has put a tracker on your car?

Using a flashlight, check both front and rear wheel wells. Use your hand to feel in areas that aren't easily visible. If a tracker is located in the wheel well, its magnet will need to be attached to a metal part, so look behind plastic covers that don't require removal.

Can I put a tracker on my boyfriend's car?

The general consensus is that if you want to put a tracker on someone's car, even if that person is your spouse, you need the owner's consent. It is a criminal offence to place a tracking device on a vehicle that you do not own.