Nevada bill bans GPS devices in strangers’ cars

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A bill introduced in the Nevada Legislature would prohibit people from placing mobile tracking devices on or inside a car without the owner’s knowledge.

AB356 on Wednesday it was subject to a public hearing. Current law in Nevada states that a tracking device using GPS to monitor a person’s movements is considered an invasion of privacy — but not a criminal offense.

The bill would criminalize such activity—the first offense would be a misdemeanor, the second a felony, and the third a Class C felony.

Assemblywomen Jill Dickman (Deputy Minority Floor Leader North, District 31) and Selena La Rue Hatch (District 25) sponsored the bill and were joined Wednesday by Serena Evans, policy director of the Nevada Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence. .

Dickman began his introduction of the bill by saying that a number of elected officials have been the victims of a serious invasion of privacy with the purpose of warrantless GPS tracking.

“The equipment is installed in their cars and family members. It can affect anyone. The pursuit of technological incidents is on the rise,” he said.

In Nevada, it is currently not a crime to place a GPS tracking device in a person’s vehicle without their knowledge or consent.

Hatch said he was concerned the actions would not be criminalized.

“Those who are targeted are victims of harassment, domestic violence and there is no recourse for these victims,” ​​he said.

Diekman on the case of Hillary Shiev, the mayor of Reno, who again in January of this year the mechanic found such a device in his car.

“It’s amazing what happened — and it can happen to any of us,” Dickman said.

Statistics reported to the committee Wednesday show that one in six women in the U.S. have been stalked in their lifetime, compared to one in 19 men.

Several states have already implemented similar laws, including Alaska, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode- Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.

If this law is approved, it will come into effect on July 1.

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