I want to independently track a vehicle using electronics.
Its a low cost do it yourself project.
The subject cannot know they are being tracked.
We are only talking about a radius of a few miles here.
I need to secretly install and uninstall the device.
So how about it guys? Where can I purchase such a device?
You **know ** that this thread is going to get locked. I would think that there would be a more appropriate place (with better and more useful information) to ask this question…
So why would it get locked?
Why do you want to track someone secretly?
While you’re probably right, I’d be interested to know what specific crime would be comitted in the scenario described by OP, so if any mod closing this thread could provide a cite…pretty please? 
Having a hard time coming up with a non-stalker reason to want to do what the OP wants…
Keeping track of a dependent teenager who’s shown a propensity for going places he or she shouldn’t instead of to school/work/whatever.
For example.
Why the hell would that need to be a secret? If I was going to allow a child like that driving privileges, it would be on terms I set…like the use of the tracking technology, and strict liability for any “equipment malfunction” or unauthorized detours.
I didn’t say it was GOOD parenting. I was trying to come up with an example that wouldn’t be considered stalking.
OK, fair enough. There are legitimate uses for the technology. I bet taxi companies and delivery services use it to keep track of their fleets of vehicles.
It’s just the empasis on stealth in the OP that gives me bad vibes…
I’ve wanted to do it before today. I had an employee who I suspected was using the company vehicle for unauthorised business (and lending it to unauthorised drivers). I would have dearly loved to be able to know if he was where he said he was. Since this was a company vehicle there was no element of stalking involved.
If you can’t come up with at least a dozen of legitimate and legal reason to do this you aren’t trying very hard.
Not me. If someone knows they are under surveillance they are hardly likely to step over the line. So a device that can be discreetly installed and removed is essential.
And most businesses that run large fleets these days use GPS to track driver movements. But that’s expensive and a freakin’ great GPS unit will probably be noticed by a keen eyed driver.
I don’t dispute legitimate uses of the technology, but don’t see the need for double secret probation. If I was the business owner, and I felt the need to the monitor my vehicles, I’d let the drivers know I was doing it.
The OP does not say, or really imply that he owns the vehicle in question. He definitely doesn’t want anyone to know he’s doing this, yet he also has to realize the questions I’m raising would come up here. Seems like he either worded things very casually, or…something.
But isn’t the whole point to deter misconduct? I’d rather have someone behave than punish them for screwing up…
Exactly. Although there is no way that the OP strikes me as this is the reason for doing it, even if it were, the point is that the subject should be deterred, not punished.
Well in the case I mentioned I (and my supervisors) were already concerned about the person’s behaviour, which was unprofessional at best. Unfortunately the corporate culture was such that it was hard to dismiss someone without either a lot of “counselling and interventions” or a rock solid reason. I would have liked to have had a rock solid reason to dismiss him should the need arise. IOW I was more interested in getting solid evidence that the man was untrustworthy than in simply deterring one of his many unprofessional behaviours and tip him off that people were watching him. Knowing the individual in question that would have made him more covert in his actions but no more trustworthy.
As it turns out his later actions took the decision out of our hands and caused the regional management to fire him. Of course nobody in our unit tried very hard to defend him at this stage. But that is another story.
And see, it is cases like this that will make the moderators look at posts like the OP, and consider closing threads on a case by case basis.
I am glad I don’t have their duties, as I would more than likely NOT give the benefit of the doubt (but I am cynical by nature anyway).
This thread is being tracked. While it may or may not be illegal, note that the SDMB is not a court of law and uses different standards when deciding to close threads. If we reasonably believe that the answers to the OP are violative of US law or, in our opinion, invasive of a person’s privacy w.r.t. the specific situation described in the OP, we may close this thread.
Meanwhile, here’s an interesting article discussing the legality of using GPS devices for tracking:
-xash
General Questions Moderator
Presumably the important thing is whether the OP has ‘rights’ to the vehicle.
If they own it, it’s their privilege to bug it.
If not, it’s probably illegal.
I’m glad Xash made his presence know, and in his usually intelligent way. I, as a mod, possibly would have closed it. Not saying I automatically would have, just might have after some thinking.
Reading the OP, my first thought is “Hmmm? He wants to put it on his wife’s car because he suspects she’s having an affair. And after he catches her, he’ll confront her and a shooting will take place. And the Board will have had a hand in it.”
See how my mind works?
samclem