Birmingham, AL asked in Criminal Law for Alabama

Q: Can gps information be used in a criminal case if it was not obtained with a warrant in al

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T. Augustus Claus
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  • Criminal Law Lawyer
  • Las Vegas, NV

A: The use of GPS information in a criminal case without a warrant can be a complex legal issue, and it often depends on the circumstances and applicable laws in the jurisdiction where the case is being tried.

In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court addressed the use of GPS tracking in criminal cases in the landmark decision United States v. Jones. The Court ruled that attaching a GPS device to a vehicle and monitoring its movements without a warrant constitutes a search under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Since the Jones decision, courts have grappled with various scenarios involving GPS information, including whether the police need a warrant to access GPS data from smartphones or other devices. In general, obtaining GPS information without a warrant could raise constitutional issues related to privacy and the Fourth Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

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