GPS tracking a car?

Does anyone out there have any experience with GPS tracking a car, and could maybe recomend a system?

Long story short, my bro-in-laws wife has flipped her wig and is engaging in behavior that is endangering their kids, and therefore he would like to keep track of her whereabouts while he is at work and she is alone with the kids.

So, my wife and I are trying to help by getting him a tracker he can hide in her car.

This is the one I am looking at so far

http://www.tracking-system.com/tracking-systems/104-gps-tracking-key-pro.html

Anybody got any recommendations?

That's a tough spot to be in. I'm no lawyer, but that may be walking a thin line tracking someone's whereabouts by GPS without their knowledge. Using one of those devices for an unruly minor teenager of your own, I would think would be ok, but another adult....??? Not so sure. I would speak with authorities about his concern and how to proceed.

I have no GPS tracking experience, but I raise this question, do you really want to get involved in such a capacity? I know it sucks to see that crap come down, but is it really your place to facilitate such things? I wouldn't mind taking care of the kids so he can find out what is going on, but to potentially engage in a "stalking", to me, is crossing the line.

HE's pretty much beyond the point of caring what she does to herself, but a 10yrd old and 5 yr old child are involved, and to make matters worse the 5 yr old is a special needs child that connot even walk. I'd hardly call it stalking when the guy wants to make sure his kids are not involved in drug deals.

Aeromoto wrote: I'd hardly call it stalking when the guy wants to make sure his kids are not involved in drug deals.

Just because you think its not stalking, does not mean that the state does not think it is. Ignorance of the law is never a defense.

If you are really worried, call CPS and let them handle it. Or at least get something on paper.

As long as you are not the person tracking, you are not in a sticky legal situation. Your brother in law needs to check some laws out. Wearymicrobe is right, though. CPS should be involved first.

Wasn't all that long ago I was considering the same thing. One time purchase, no monthly fees, etc.

http://www.rmtracking.com/

I never actually got to the point where I had to do it. But, I was at the point that I did not give a tin E36 M3 about the legality, I was going to track my (now) ex and thus my kid. Lawyers and judges are not in that terrible position, but I was fully prepared to let the chips fall where they might. Your buddy needs to be ready for that too.

CPS will put your kids in a foster home. That may not necessarily be the world's worst thing, but it can be an expensive hell getting them back. I saw it happen to an employee of mine.

Thanks Curmudgeon for the info. I really didn't make this post for debate over the legallity of it. Quite frankly I could not give a E36 M3 about the law. We are trying to protect the children, and to hell with CPS. Thats the whole problem with this country today- we sit back and wait for big brother to do everything instead of TCB ourselves. She driving his car with his kids in it. If knowing where that car is going is against the law, then the law if f'ing stupid.

Sounds like about where I was. I was fully prepared to stand in front of a judge and say 'I did what I did out of fear for my daughter's safety. If you gotta throw the book at me for that, then go right ahead'.

OBTW: I'd recommend a hardwire that runs off the car's electrical system. That way, no worry about batteries going dead. Takes a few minutes longer to install but IMHO well worth it.

Sounds like he'd be better off hiring a P.I. to follow and have the kids spend some time at a neighbor/family member's home.

If she has a smart phone, there are some apps that can be installed to track the phone remotely.

A former co-worker of mine was in a similar situation. He tracked his wife's vehicle to the back of an empty shopping plaza early on a Sunday morning. One of his friends was a state trooper. A quick call to the cop and she and her "boyfriend" were busted. The 9 month old baby was asleep in the back seat while this was going on. He waited until the court date for the divorce to play his cards. Wife had no idea my buddy new about the whole episode. All the trooper had to do was show up for court, say hello to the wife, and sit in the front row. He never had to testify, and the wife agreed to everything my buddy asked for including full custody of the two kids.

Adultery is one thing, but if she's going wack that's a whole different situation. My big concern would be that she would decide to disappear with the kids. There is a case current here in SC where a woman disappeared for a couple of weeks with her ~18 month old son, she was arrested in a traffic accident, no kid. She was diagnosed as schizophrenic and refuses to discuss where the kid is. It's been about 6 months now. Chances are the poor kid is dead.

http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/amir-jennings

Don't cell phones have a GPS system in them?

How about hiding a cell phone in the car and tracking it that way?

if he is the owner of the car i don't really see a legal problem

If she has a smartphone you can download a gps tracking app thats completely hidden from the user, another option..

dabird wrote: if he is the owner of the car i don't really see a legal problem

If he is the legal and sole owner of the car, then he might be able to go this route, but it would be best to get CPS involved and start divorce proceedings. If he's that worried about his children, he needs to take steps to remove them from the situation now. Tell him to man up.

Why not give the 10-year-old an iPhone as toy and enable tracking. Then you know where the kid is at all times and you avoid the legal question. Plus if they ride in someone else's car or walk or whatever you still know where they are. Kids love iPhones.

rotard wrote:

dabird wrote: if he is the owner of the car i don't really see a legal problem

If he is the legal and sole owner of the car, then he might be able to go this route, but it would be best to get CPS involved and start divorce proceedings. If he's that worried about his children, he needs to take steps to remove them from the situation now. Tell him to man up.

This.

dculberson wrote: Why not give the 10-year-old an iPhone as toy and enable tracking. Then you know where the kid is at all times and you avoid the legal question. Plus if they ride in someone else's car or walk or whatever you still know where they are. Kids love iPhones.

That's what I was thinking. Track the kids themselves or put one on their car seat. I doubt there is any legal issue tracking where YOUR children are. The ex just happens to be with them.

Seems like it can be done pretty easy. I know this because I watch Breaking Bad.

N Sperlo wrote:

rotard wrote:

dabird wrote: if he is the owner of the car i don't really see a legal problem

If he is the legal and sole owner of the car, then he might be able to go this route, but it would be best to get CPS involved and start divorce proceedings. If he's that worried about his children, he needs to take steps to remove them from the situation now. Tell him to man up.

This.

Y'all make it sound so easy. It ain't.

Believe me.

BTDT. A very similar situation was the basis for my divorce.

He needs to plan his moves like he's walking on eggshells. A sharp attorney (or even a dumb one) can twist your actions so that a guy will lose his kids. In any situation like this, women have a much better chance of getting the kids. Is it right? No. But that's how it is. The guy will need to be able to prove how off her rocker she is and that is not easy unless she cracks completely. In many cases, people who are off their rockers can seem very normal for short periods, long enough to fool a cop or judge or etc. As I say, BTDT.

Once you get CPS (DSS down here) involved your chances of getting them back in the near future are tiny. That came STRAIGHT from my attorney because we had that exact same conversation when we were exploring alternatives. Oh, and it will cost a pile of money.

I do not know the circumstances of the situation here, but in my case I had to go for temporary emergency custody. That is nowhere near as easy as it sounds. Again, believe me.

My bro's first wife got into drugs and would disappear at times. He had family members to help him watch the kids. He told her to move out and had restraining order put on her nad proceded to file for divorce. He now has sole custody. Your friend needs to get family to help him out. I recall my mom taking us and going to my grandmother's to make the point to my dad that things were over. Your friend needs to document activities and behaviors that could be construed as negligent or dangerous and ask for seperation. If he's gotta take time off to do itthen he must. Hopefully he has an understanding boss and family support. This will be especially tough on the kids. My bro had to stop telling his girls that mommy was coming to visit because they would get excited and then she wouldn't show up. Things are better now as he's married to a wonderful woman and now has five girls.

Who says that you cant put the GPS on the car for anti-theft reasons? I would still check the local laws. I think it might be safe as long as you are not recording video or audio.

Lojack?

vwcorvette wrote: Lojack?

Lojack is the Marco-Polo of the automotive industry.

They have GPS bracelets for kids. Just sayin.