My employer (the government) just installed new GPS into the cars that supposedly tells them when you're speeding IN EACH SPEED ZONE. Does such a thing exist? we think they're trying to scare us.

well, I just wouldn’t want to be the first one to find out thats for sure

Wow. That’s really intense. I don’t think it would need super satellites so much as super map systems. The maps would need speed limit info as well as roads. Other than that, I believe the rest can be recorded on your GPS and dumped onto a computer fairly easily. If not, Monk lied to me and totally can’t prove how his dad’s boss killed someone.

Edited to clarify: I’m not sure about the speeds, but I totally believe that they can see where you went and probably when you went there. (Which would give average speeds if they wanted to figure that out.)

we’ll actually you wouldn’t need that info in the maps, I mean it can just record your speed and what road, and if its a highway, everyone knows what the speed is on the highway, or main commercial streets ect. Its not too hard to figure out.

From LoJack’s website: With ProximityPlus™ by LoJack, you can pinpoint your car’s location, monitor driver speed, and view areas traveled by those using your vehicle – all from the convenience of your home computer. ProximityPlus™ puts information at your fingertips immediately, so you can have important driving safety conversations later.

So… yes. They can watch all this. Creepy.

I work for a trucking company and I can assure they aren’t just trying to scare – yes – such a thing does exist and yes they can tell how fast you’re traveling, I use that same kind of equipment and programing on my job. I know where all of my drivers are, how fast they are traveling, where they stop and how much time they spent there. If it scares you, that’s a good thing, maybe it will keep you from speeding. The thing is programed to show speed limits on highways, city streets, secondary roads, etc. They will certainly know if you’ve been speeding. It’s all done by satelite and computer programing.

Not only that but you can actually program the alterts to where it only lets you know when someone is speeding. i.e., the system might send your boss an email when someone goes 5 over the limit. He doesn’t have to sit there and watch it the whole time.

Even my cheap rinky dink gps unit will tell you how fast my car is going. Your boss can also set up alerts that let him know if the vechicle is stationary for an extended time. He can check where you were and see if your written lunch hours match the amount of time the car was stopped.

If you are driving a company vehicle—being payed by the hour—why not just make a point of going 10 under ;)

BTW, Google Maps is able to estimate your driving time because it knows the speed limits on the roads.

I can certainly see where what you describe is possible.

I have no objection to not speeding, but some of these local roads have speed limits like 25 or 35, which is pretty hard to stick to. There was an article in the local paper a few years ago (i wish i could provide the link) by a guy who experimented by driving the speed limit on the local roads to see what would happen, and he wrote about people honking, flashing their lights, tailgating him, because like i said some of those speed limits are kind of ridiculous. I think his research found that they made the limits low because they originally were made to accomodate farm vehicles.

Big Brother is Watching You!!

Yes, this does exist. A car rental company tried implementing it a few years ago. When a man realized that his rental bill was higher because he was speeding, he sued the company and won without question. This is definitely illegal, but perhaps they are now able to get around it with the Patriot Act. But I wouldn’t take this sitting down.

EnzoX24, it’s not illegal for a company that owns a car to put this type of device in their own car. I do what I want with cars I own and so can they. That’s like saying it’s illegal for companies to monitor web use and emails. News flash. They do monitor it and it’s 100% legal. Now if the government put a tracking device in YOUR car, that would be illegal.

I agree that what you are describing is both possible and legal. I would just point out that most commercial GPS devices calculate an estimated arrival time for you, once you enter your destination. It can do that, because its maps do include information on each road including speed limits. It expects you, for example, to drive much faster on highways than on surface streets.

This is definately possible as many parents are installing this to keep tract of their teenage drivers. I beleive it is legal to do this but would question if the governement employee was reprimanded from the data given if the union they belong to would want to argue its legality.

One of the managers actually said that if someone was disciplined because of it, the union could say that there’s no proof that the thing is accurate or working properly.

It’s legal for a company to keep an eye on it’s assets. The car belongs to the company. They could put cameras in the cars legally if they wanted to.

(it’s all kind of getting off-topic)....I have no doubt this would be legal, my question was does the thing exist. it seems from the threads that it does.

Youarebeingwatched.us

ACLU sponsered website

YES, they have the technology. I also work for the government, they recently installed the same thing in our vans. I have seen the reports and computer program. IT IS LEGIT. BE AWARE.

Thanks all for your advice and your research. i am going to give you all good answers.

I was thinking I wonder if in the future, if all cars have GPS installed in them as a standard item, like catalytic converter, if the car will automatically generate a speeding ticket. Therefore, police will be needed for crimes and for other moving violations, but if you go beyond the speed limit, the satellite will know and the local court will be notified via email, generated automatically, and then a ticket will be mailed out. There will be less of a need for speed traps, of the kind we know today, with cops sitting at the side of the road. Maybe the local towns could hire a few less cops, also. Big Brother will definitely be watching, via the eye in the sky…..

As long as people like me can work on cars, this will never be an option. I’d snip that wire so quick that it’d make your head spin.