FBI Director Robert Mueller stated Wednesday that the recent Supreme Court decision requiring law enforcement to obtain warrants in order to utilize global positioning satellite (GPS) tracking devices has resulted in the use of large teams of agents for surveillance.

Director Mueller, testifying before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies cited the current need to conduct surveillance using 6 to 12 agents to follow a subject.

The Court's restriction on the use of GPS "will inhibit our ability to use this in a number of surveillances where it has been tremendously beneficial", he told the subcommittee. AS a result of the Court's decision, the bureau recently terminated the use of some 3,000 GPS trackers used to track subjects of investigations.

Mueller said that the Bureau now must conduct surveillance on subjects who may be a terrorist threat for extended periods of time because there is insufficient information on them show probable cause. Previously they could be monitored using GPS technology.

Although the Supreme Court's ruling only restricts governmental actions, NCISS is concerned about pending legislation which would restrict the private use of GPS.  Director Mueller's testimony helps show that the use of GPS is far less intrusive than the use of surveillance teams. NCISS will continue to monitor proposed legislation and proactively educate legislators on the our profession's continued lawful use of GPS tracking devices.

Keeping the profession informed,

Jimmie Mesis, LPI

NCISS Legislative Chairman

NCISS

7501 Sparrows Point Boulevard

Baltimore, Maryland 21219-1927

T-(800) 445-8408  F-(410) 388-9746

jim@nciss.org

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