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Appeals court finds warrantless GPS tracking OK

By: Associated Press//April 23, 2014//

Appeals court finds warrantless GPS tracking OK

By: Associated Press//April 23, 2014//

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San Jose, Calif., resident Yasir Afifi shows off a GPS tracking device that was placed on his car. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday that police must get a search warrant before using GPS technology to track criminal suspects. (AP File Photo/Paul Sakuma)
San Jose, Calif., resident Yasir Afifi shows off a GPS tracking device that was placed on his car. A state appeals court ruled Wednesday at Wisconsin police were within their rights to place GPS trackers on cars before the U.S. Supreme Court rules they need warrants. (AP File Photo/Paul Sakuma)

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A state appeals court says Wisconsin police were within their rights to place GPS trackers on cars before the U.S. Supreme Court rules they need warrants.

Police in Kenosha attached a tracker to Scott Oberst’s car without a warrant in 2011. They used the tracker to gather evidence to build a drug case against him.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that police need warrants to affix trackers on cars. Oberst was convicted on two drug counts but argued the evidence against him should have been suppressed in light of the ruling.

The 2nd District Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday the evidence was properly admitted because police believed they didn’t need a warrant in 2011.

Oberst’s attorney says he’ll talk to Oberst about appealing to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

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