Nevada’s bill banning GPS tracking devices in cars receives bipartisan support in the Legislature

CARSON CITY, Nev. (News 4 & Fox 11) – A bill criminalizing the installation of GPS tracking devices in private vehicles has garnered broad bipartisan support in the Nevada state legislature.

The action, which comes after a recent case in which Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve was prosecuted, would make it a misdemeanor to install a handheld tracking device in another person’s motor vehicle without their consent.

If passed, the second offense would be a gross misdemeanor and the third offense would be a category C felony.

The assembly’s Bill 356, introduced by Republican Representative Jill Dickman and Democratic Representative Selena La Rue Hatch, had its first hearing in the assembly Judiciary Committee Wednesday morning.

Dickman said she was surprised to learn that installing these tracking devices wasn’t already a crime. In the case of Mayor Schieve, she resorted to a civil lawsuit, as there was no criminal violation.

“It was so shocking to me … I just assumed it was a crime everywhere,” Dickman said.

What a massive invasion of privacy.

Washoe County Republican Commission Chairman Vaughn Hartung also had a GPS tracker installed in his vehicle, and he later joined the lawsuit as well.

Proponents say the legislation isn’t just reserved for elected officials — it aims to prevent the installation of GPS tracking devices in people’s private cars without their consent. They hope that this will also protect victims of domestic violence from stalking.

AB 356 does not change Nevada’s fleet or rental car laws and provides an exemption for law enforcement agencies who could continue to use such tracking devices as part of a legal investigation.

According to supporters of the bill, 24 states have already passed legislation banning the use of GPS tracking devices.

In response to a question from Republican Rep. Ken Gray about the use of such trackers by private investigators, particularly in unsolved cases, Dickman said that if the measure is approved, investigators will have to “do it the old-fashioned way.”

La Rue Hatch said the measure aims to address what she called the “misuse” of these GPS trackers in the private investigative field.

The bill has a total of 26 supporters, including several members of both parties. The committee did not vote on the measure at Wednesday’s hearing.

Watch the hearing here and read the full bill below:

READ the draft law here:

Email reporter Ben Margiott at bjmargiott@sbgtv.com. Follow @BenMargiott on Twitter and Ben Margiott KRNV on Facebook.