GPS Life or death disturbing events

[Vacs]

Several months ago I was witness to a frightening event. A young girl tried to commit suicide by taking a bottle of pills and driving off in her car to hide until the worst happened. I saw her friend spend almost an hour alternately calling the state police (NJ) and the local police (Roxbury, NJ) to coordinate a search for the young girl and to give the police suggestions as to where to look. Her friend also spoke to the young girl on her cell phone several times trying to get her to say where she was so help could be sent. The young girl was found in time to save her life and her friend is definitely a heroine for her actions that night.

This is what I don’t understand. Why when her friend told the police that the girl had a cell phone (mot. razr) and that they should call the cell phone company (Verizon) to find the girls location they would not or could not do it. What is the whole E911 thing for anyway, isn’t it supposed to be used for just such situations?

[Pibe38]

I think it only transmits the location when phone in question calls 911. I may be wrong though.

[shaggylive]

Privacy.

A court order would be needed. Even if it was a minor and the parents paid for the phone/service the location service still needs authorization from the phone/user periodically.

[bushd]

Sprint locator allows for just this. Initially the account owner must accept the tracking. After that, they pay a monthly and can locate at any time. However, if you are the account owner you could probably activate and use within 5 minutes after knowing it is needed.

[Vacs]

So even when the police have as they call it "probable cause" that someones life is in danger they have to go to court to get the info? Well maybe your right, I hope not though. I'm just surprised that this thread is of so little interest here.

[wldthng842]

Yes they would need a court order. Probable cause only works for actions done by a police officer. It is like getting her medical records. A policeman can not walk in for this and get them. A judge would need to sign the slip. However this is fast and should have been done. You should be able to get a court order signed and faxed within 15 minutes for this type of incident.