Police GPS Tracking Bullets VIDEO: New System Can Help Police Track Vehicle & Avoid High-Speed Chases
Police in Iowa and Florida are currently testing a new system that will allow them to track suspects in cases and still avoid high-speed car chases.
The new system, known as Starchase, is a small GPS module inside a 'bullet' or a projectile tracker and a 'cannon' launcher that is attached to the front of a police car. A cop involved in a car chase can engage the system and shoot out the tracking device, which will then stick the 'bullet' tag to the back of the car being chased.
The officer can track it in real time from a computer screen or mobile device, allowing the cop to follow at a less excessive speed and avoiding the possibility of a high-speed chase or crash, according to PSFK.
The system, which has been in operation since 2006, has successfully been used worldwide. If the success translates to the Iowa and Florida markets it could potentially be distributed to police forces in all 50 states.
A trooper from Iowa told The Des Moines Register the device has already been successful in helping with cases in the state.
"I was able to track a vehicle and back completely off. We shut it down and tracked him over into Omaha," US Trooper Tim Sieleman said. "After they think the officer has disengaged, they back down to normal speeds to blend in with traffic so they don't get noticed again."
The Iowa police fleet currently only has one vehicle equipped with the technology as the system is expensive to set up. The system itself goes for $5000, while each round is $500, making it very pricey for some cash-strapped departments.
