GRPFAN

Did I read once were there's a computer tracking device (black box) in modern cars today?

Looks like the civil liberty group is getting involved.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/24862...px_h_cbstories

Cruiter

Insurance companies and manufacturers can use the black box's in most new cars to determine what you were doing just prior to a crash or malfunction. Rental companies can use the tracking in a GPS (most rental cars have them now) to determine if you left the state and might be liable to being charged more.

But these have nothing to do with law enforcement tracking of someone they're following via a device they planted on a vehicle. The 'Supremes' just ruled that a warrant was necessary for that in most cases.

MX5NES350

Yup. No warrant. No tracking. Big Brother lost on that one for now.

mmarshall

Yes, the Court's unanimous ruling on the issue sent a clear message that a warrant was first needed. But, if that's going to be the case, then judges and magistrates are going to have to be ready to promptly issue one if needed....even if it's 3 AM and that judge has to be woken up out of bed to do so. When police have evidence (or reason to believe) that a vehicle is being used to break a law (in this case, drug-trafficing), they often have to move quickly or risk losing their chance to nab someone. They don't always have time to sit around and wait all day until a judge or magistrate can be located, briefed, and formally sign a warrant.

DunWkg

Is a warrant needed to gain access to the "flight data recorder" in a car? Isn't there a computer that records control parameters?