“Can the police locate me by pinging my cellphone, like you see on TV shows like NCIS and FBI and all that?”

Well, IT DOESN’T work the way it’s portrayed in TV shows where law enforcement can simply “ping” a phone (even underground, per a recent Hawaii Five-0 episode!) and see on a screen who it is and where it is just like that!

BUT, in some and right circumstances, they may be able and allowed to do that with help from cellphone providers and of course, if granted by the court. 

WARRANT is one important word you should remember if you feel you’re being tracked by law enforcers. Aside from “exigent circumstances” or emergency situations, warrants would always be required!

Federal law allows police to track data, like cellphone information, with a court order based on:

  • Facts granting “reasonable grounds to believe”
  • The records are “relevant and material to an ongoing investigation”

REMEMBER: You have the right to privacy of your sensitive data, and police can’t just try to search the data stored on your computer or portable electronic device or seize it for further examination somewhere else. If this happened, know that any evidence they find as a result of that could get SUPPRESSED in court.

For questions about this pinging of your cellphone, or anything related to criminal law, or criminal defense, you can trust us! To gain deeper understanding of this matter and protect your rights, email or call us today!