US appeals court OKs evidence from no-warrant GPS
A U.S. appeals court has reversed a decision that threw out evidence gathered after a GPS device was put on a suspect's van without a warrant.
The case involves a series of pharmacy robberies near Philadelphia. But years of appeals have focused on when police need warrants to track someone through GPS.
Previous courts have said authorities should generally get warrants unless there's an imminent danger.
The latest ruling Wednesday says police in this case may have relied on old case law, and acted in good faith.
The 8-5 ruling from the full 3rd Circuit says evidence from the van can therefore be used at trial.
However, the ruling warns police to use caution when installing GPS devices, because the Supreme Court has said that amounts to a police search.
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