Investigators who want to track the movement of an identified suspect through the use of their cell phone can need to realize what?
A The cell phone cannot be tracked as far as location if the phone is not in use.
B The cell phone can be tracked via cell sites as long as the cell phone is on.
C The cell phone can only be tracked if it is “roaming”.
D If the cell phone user turns off the GPS on the phone it cannot be tracked.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is B: The cell phone can be tracked via cell sites as long as the cell phone is on.
Cell phones can be tracked through a method known as cell-site location tracking, which uses data from nearby cell towers to pinpoint the phone’s location. This process does not require the phone to be actively used for calls or texts. As long as the phone is powered on and has a connection to the network, its location can be determined by triangulating its proximity to nearby cell towers. Even if a user is not using the phone for calls or other communication, the device will still regularly connect to cell towers, transmitting data that can be used for tracking.
Tracking a cell phone using this method does not depend on the phone being in use. In fact, it can be tracked as long as the phone is simply on and connected to a network, whether it is making calls or not. This technology works because cell phones continuously search for the nearest tower to connect with, transmitting identifying data as part of the normal function of the phone. Even if the phone is idle, this connection to the cell tower enables tracking by law enforcement or investigators with the proper legal authorization.
While GPS can offer more precise location tracking, it is not required for cell-site tracking to occur. In fact, even if the GPS function is turned off on a phone, it can still be tracked via the cell network.
Option A is incorrect because a phone can be tracked even if not in active use, as long as it is on and connected to a network. Option C is also incorrect because phones can be tracked even if they are not roaming, as long as they are within the range of a local cell tower. Option D is inaccurate because turning off the GPS does not prevent tracking through cell tower data.