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Electronically tracking someone without their consent illegal under bill headed to governor

By Brandon Smith, IPB News | Published on in Crime, Government, Politics, Technology
Sen. Mike Crider (R-Greenfield) was inspired by a constituent's near-fatal tragedy to write legislation criminalizing electronically tracking someone without their knowledge. (Lauren Chapman/IPB News)

People who track others electronically without their consent will be committing a crime in Indiana under legislation headed to the governor’s desk.

Lawmakers gave final approval to a bill Monday that developed out of a near-fatal tragedy.

An Indiana woman named Millie Park was nearly stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend after he tracked her down via a GPS device he had put on her car without her knowing.

Sen. Mike Crider (R-Greenfield) saw Park’s story and wrote SB 161 to criminalize electronic tracking, with some exceptions.

Crider said her story is not an isolated one.

“I got a call from a lobbyist that was at an auto dealership over the weekend,” Crider said. “A technician came in and said, ‘Whose red car is this out there?’ A gentleman raised his hand and said, ‘Well, it’s my daughter’s car.’ And he said, ‘Do you know there’s a tracker on her car?’”

READ MORE: House committee scales back penalties for new crime of electronically tracking someone

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Family members are still allowed to electronically track each other under the bill, unless there’s a restraining order in place.

Brandon is our Statehouse bureau chief. Contact him at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.