As technology advances, the law and its application to real life events are constantly evolving. Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously held that the Government's attachment of the GPS device to the vehicle, and its use of that device to monitor the vehicle's movements, constituted a search under the Fourth Amendment. The case, United States v. Jones, is an appeal by Antoine Jones, who was convicted of conspiracy to distribute cocaine after police installed a GPS device on his vehicle.
The Fourth Amendment protects the "right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures." The Fourth Amendment is implicated when there is a violation of a suspect's reasonable expectation of privacy. In this case, the Government's physical intrusion by installing the GPS device for the purpose of obtaining information without a valid search warrant violated the defendant's rights under the Fourth Amendment.
Technology and the law are constantly evolving. The law firm of Tatlow, Gump, Faiella & Wheelan, LLC represent seriously injured plaintiffs and their families. If you or a loved one have been injured due to the negligence of another, the attorneys at Tatlow, Gump, Faiella & Wheelan, LLC have the knowledge and experience necessary to handle your case. Contact our office for a free initial consultation.
