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IPFS News Link • Police State

Police use new technology to stop high speed chases

• My Fox Tampa Bay
ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) -  High-speed chases are usually dangerous and can be deadly, but police are using new technology, both safe and discreet, that tracks the suspect(s) by GPS.

The system is called "Star Chase", and so far it's been installed in twelve St. Pete Police cars.

Above the front bumper on the passenger side, two canisters hold magnetic and adhesive GPS tracking darts.

During a chase, instead of potentially harming the public, officers can fire the dart onto the car they're chasing, then back off.

"Then we start tracking it on a secured website. That's when more units, the helicopter, and everyone else can get involved and help find the vehicle and hopefully make an arrest," Major Paul Mcwade said.

Police tested the system for six months before buying twelve of them through a federal tax dollar grant.

At $5,000 a piece, they are expensive, but officers say they're worth it.FOX 13 News

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