StarChase Pursuit Management System (GPS Device For Police Pursuits)

Hope it catches on and there are no legal issues of "shooting" something at the suspect vehicle.

Wow, I like it.

Uhm, guys (and ladies),

It sounds impressive until you start looking under the hood a little. I've got some very serious questions about this little toy. How does it get it's data back from the device so it can be displayed on a Google map mash-up? It doesn't use standard public safety radio frequencies, so it's either wifi or cellular and if cellular that's a $30 per month charge, per unit for the data plan whether it's used or not.

Lots of important details missing from their slick marketing video and less than informative web site and flyer. Of course, Arizona can pay for them with the ticket cam revenue.

I think it is a good ideal, but someone will come up with something against it.

on the back of your car?

any bad guy hearing a loud thunk as the device hit the back of their car may think the police were shooting at them (and technically they are) and use a gun to fire back. The defense argument would be the police fired a projectile first.

(hypothetically of course)and I heard a "thunk" and the pursuing officer "backed off" I think I would still be driving pretty fast to get far enough ahead to stop and take the thing off.

It'll probably work for some situations, but there will probably be some unintended negative consequences as well.

Badguy won't have to worry about a defense because his shooting would have escalated it to a deadly force justified incident. He would likely be dead with the multiple gunshots to his center mass.

that's very cool

Hitting the vehicle with the tracker in a real life situation isn't going to be as simple as they imply - what happens then? You stop, grab the tracker, rearm the system and THEN take off after the runner?

And don't try to make it stick to a Corvette, either . . .

Yeah, it uses cellular technology and a subscription is more likely $15/month for unlimited tracking because that's what I pay for the one I have in my car.

As to the patent, I think not - there is absolutely nothing unique about the concept - it has been demonstrated in a number of spy and police movies over the years and, as such fails the basic 'obvious to someone skilled in the art' test that is a requirement of patent protection - but one can always apply and receive a patent, though it likely won't be defensible if tested in a court of law.

I don't think they'll be selling these in huge numbers . . .