Just a couple weeks ago, we had written about a federal lawsuit concerning whether or not the Justice Department needs a warrant to put a tracking device on cars. In a very prescient manner, a bunch of our commenters started discussing what would happen if they found such a device on their car, and whether or not it would be legal to remove it. Well, now we have a case of exactly that happening.
The article is quite funny.
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He is an Arab. The government puts these free safety devices on all their vehicles.
“Finders keepers, losers weepers”
In NZ, “The Pork Board” was found hiring secretive companies to track Animal Welfare protesters, who were visiting farms and taking videos of the shocking conditions:
Original story
More photos of the GPS device (it used a Vodafone (carrier) simcard, must have been sending back coordinates?
How come these things don’t happen to Jews?
If someone sticks something on my car, I can sell it on eBay. That seems clear.
A more interesting question: can we stick tracking devices on the cars of politicians?
It seems like you could hack a tracking device pretty easily from disposable cell phone.
(I checked — I think this would do the job.
This is a better link. It’s so popular, it has its own web site! Seems perfect for sticking to cars of FBI, politicians, Michael Savage, etc.
It interfaces with Google Earth so you can see if Michael Savage is stopping at gay bars on the way home from his show.
I take the battery out of my cell phone so THE MAN can’t find me. The GPS function in many cell phones knows exactly where the phone is located, and doesn’t keep that information secret.
Why don’t they just put a tag on it, like a mattress? DO NOT REMOVE this device under PENALTY OF LAW
If he is a taxpayer, then wouldn’t the gps be his since it was paid for with taxpayer dollars?
Why not just put it in a Fedex Box and mail it somewhere exotic, like Afghanistan.
Hilarity ensues.
Is hilarity the only thing that ensues?
Stick it on a freight car. They are supposed to be able to find it.
What I don’t like is them wiring the bloody thing into my car so it can draw power. I don’t think anyone has a legal right to that without a warrant.
You can dig up a civil war era cannon on your land, and if it has the US on it, it’s still federal property. If you want to be civil disobedient with federal agencies that’s fine, just be ready for the pain.
He should sue the FBI for trespassing, vandalism, planting an explosive object, harassment, endangering the public in transport of unsecured objects, intent to reduce gas mileage of innocent driver.
I should be a prosecutor.
If it’s a tracking device, why do they need to ask him where it is?
1. Put device in box.
2. Put in river, or (if you can get to one) stick on plane.
3. Watch chaos erupt.
4. Lol.
I was just able to put into words what bothers me about this: He’s not being charged, or even accused, just endlessly tracked and harassed. This can’t possibly be legal. It’s not right. They need to put up or shut up. Is there a “put up or shut up” clause in the Constitution?
People who go on about the constitution in these circumstances – you do realize that slavery was explicitly supported in the constitution for 100years after it was signed?
There would be nothing particularly odd about a new amendment allowing you to round up and gas a section ofsociety.
deowll,
You raise an very interesting point that may be a legitimate legal issue.
If the GPS is using electricity from the car, the FBI is clearly stealing from Mr. Afifi.
The article does say that the newer models of GPS trackers don’t need the car’s power.
Even so, aren’t the FBI stealing transportation of their equipment? It’s a stretch but a possible issue.
This is so clearly wrong — there has to be some solid legal basis against it.
Call the cops and report having found a “pipe bomb” under the car. They’ll come out and blow it up for free. And then the FBI can cry about it, but not blame the civilian, for its destruction.
#22 If the Bomb Squad removes a suspect device from a car, it probably won’t be good for the car.
I like the idea of shipping it off to a far off land. I bet that’d make them scratch their heads when they see it going through the ocean.