Wired has an interesting article concerning the use of remote-control and GPS technology to catch car thieves. Unlike the consumer-oriented LoJack, these systems are used by the police for “bait” cars. When someone drives off with the car, police can track it and choke off the gas when the suspect moves to a good intercept point.

Though I sometimes think it appropriate to take police actions with a healthy slice of skepticism, this approach seems innovative. Sneaky, yes, but in a oooh-I-like-it sort of way. That’s why I find it so surprising that some are calling it entrapment. Doesn’t entrapment involve some variety of coercion? An artifical manipulation of the situation? Here, you’re parking a car. It looks like the other cars. Nobody encourages you to steal it.

I don’t get it.

(One caveat: the article left a hint that they’re leaving the keys in the car. If that’s the case, I’m more inclined to doubt the tactic.)

This entry was posted on Friday, January 3rd, 2003 at 11:38 pm and is filed under Law & Politics.. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.