SCOTUS: Police GPS Trackers Require Warrant

Federal agents violated a suspect's privacy rights, when they used a Global Positioning System device to track his movements for 28 days without a warrant, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled.

The court handed down its unanimous ruling Tuesday, and split 5-4 on the rationale for the decision in Unites States v. Jones, reports the New York Times.

The case centered around Antoine Jones, the owner of a Washington D.C. nightclub who was suspected of being involved in a cocaine-selling operation. Agents placed a tracker on his Jeep Grand Cherokee without a warrent. He was sentenced to life in prison based on the evidence obtained by agents. A majority of justices considered the placing of the device an unreasonable search.