Mercedes Benz refuses to help police.

I'm not Takumi · July 18th, 2007, 08:34 AM

http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/16/m...-suspects-gps/

Quote:

For all the tracking equipment that Mercedes-Benz crams in its motorcars, it's apparently mighty tough to get the company to tap into any of it if you're not the owner. Reportedly, the automaker has "refused to comply with a court order to activate a car's GPS" after authorities tried in vain to track down a hit-and-run suspect the easy way.

Blayde · July 18th, 2007, 08:49 AM

So, if you're dead, and they got your car, the cops are really screwed. And MB doesn't come off very good in either case saying it's for privacy...

jensked · July 18th, 2007, 09:01 AM

Well court order is court order, isn't it?

Sue MB!

Austere · July 18th, 2007, 10:24 AM

A Mercedes-Benz driver should be allowed to run over as many damn people as he wants! This week alone I ran over three of you worthless commoners.

Scott · July 18th, 2007, 11:00 AM

Something tells e that Mercedes will change their tune on this in short order. Bad press tends to do very bad things to companies like this, especially press that makes people feel unsafe!

jensked · July 18th, 2007, 11:09 AM

Bad press, good press, it's all press some people say.

un-dee · July 18th, 2007, 11:20 AM

Am I the only one thinking that this is good? I don't want my car to be tracked anywhere I go.

Karoug · July 18th, 2007, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by un-dee

Am I the only one thinking that this is good? I don't want my car to be tracked anywhere I go.

I'm with ya on that one!!!

GraemeH · July 18th, 2007, 11:56 AM

I'm with Mercedes on this. It's not what the tracker is there for, it's there as a service to the car customer, and if they cave in this time police and courts will be quicker to ask for them to do it in the future when there's a bit less of a reason, until they barely need a reason at all.

jensked · July 18th, 2007, 12:07 PM

It's not about what it's for and if it's the right thing, it's about a court order. If you don't agree, there are ways to fight that decision. But untill then, the decision has to be obeyed.

Dura lex, sed lex

D-Fence · July 18th, 2007, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by un-dee

Am I the only one thinking that this is good? I don't want my car to be tracked anywhere I go.

SHAME ON YOU!

Big Brother is teh win! I want to have cameras everywhere and be tracked WHEREEVER I GO!

SuperStalin · July 18th, 2007, 03:04 PM

Next we'll see mobile phones record the sound and video of our everyday life,
so the police can always track down what we did, and when we did it.

hajj · July 18th, 2007, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by un-dee

Am I the only one thinking that this is good? I don't want my car to be tracked anywhere I go.

It's all good. I didn't know that Mercedes has tracking equipment in it's cars. We actually had to install an aftermarket GPS alarm on the ML, but Mercedes has nothing to do with it. Even though that system can shut the car down on demand, I don't think they would be allowed to do so without permission of the owner. But there are of course other contacts on our list... images/smilies/cry.gif

wooflepoof · July 18th, 2007, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D-Fence

SHAME ON YOU!

Big Brother is teh win! I want to have cameras everywhere and be tracked WHEREEVER I GO!

I installed cameras all over my house and wherever i go and send the tapes to the government every week.

Kudos to MB for protecting its customers but i dunno how this court order thing will turn out

Paco · July 18th, 2007, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperStalin

Next we'll see mobile phones record the sound and video of our everyday life,
so the police can always track down what we did, and when we did it.

Yeah, AT&T already tracks and records all of your communications: http://www.boingboing.net/2006/01/31...tt_for_he.html

http://craphound.com/images/effattlogo.jpg

bartboy9891 · July 19th, 2007, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by un-dee

Am I the only one thinking that this is good? I don't want my car to be tracked anywhere I go.

What if you were in that situation? What if a G-class crashes into the back of your tiny little MX3 and then makes a quick getaway so he won't have to pay for it?

MrDomino · July 19th, 2007, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bartboy9891

What if you were in that situation? What if a G-class crashes into the back of your tiny little MX3 and then makes a quick getaway so he won't have to pay for it?

That's a really good point.... I was with MB but yeah I agree

Also you don't have a choice with a court order, it isn't optional, it's an ORDER.

Vette Boss · July 19th, 2007, 01:52 AM

I do side with MB on this one, as well. Police shouldn't be able to just call up MB and find out where people are. I hope MB continues to fight this order.

Blind_Io · July 19th, 2007, 03:35 AM

This will change in a hurry. Lacking a suspect the victim and his/her family now have cause to sue MB for a massive amount of money, and you know the court will go along with punitive damages because MB ignored a court-order.

Right or wrong, money talks.

Zuhaib · July 19th, 2007, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hajj

It's all good. I didn't know that Mercedes has tracking equipment in it's cars. We actually had to install an aftermarket GPS alarm on the ML, but Mercedes has nothing to do with it. Even though that system can shut the car down on demand, I don't think they would be allowed to do so without permission of the owner. But there are of course other contacts on our list... images/smilies/cry.gif

Well I know for S-Class with the Tele-Aid it can track your location, when i set it up they where able to tell where I was. Also when i was in my accident they where able to tell emergence service where i was.
I am with Merc on this one as an S Class owner, even with Court Order. Merc is just contesting the Court Order, and while my heart goes out to the people effect I believe police work used to work before GPS units to track.

July 18th, 2007, 08:49 AM	#2
Blayde Joined: Dec 20th, 2004 Last Online: 03:53 PM Location: Bahrain Posts: 1,821 Car: '02 Nissan X-Trail, '06 Honda Civic EXi Rep Power: 47	So, if you're dead, and they got your car, the cops are really screwed. And MB doesn't come off very good in either case saying it's for privacy... __________________ Some say he migrated when fuel hit 4 pounds per gallon and that he can make 'special price' for you. All we know is, he's the Stig's Arab cousin; Al-Stig!

July 18th, 2007, 11:00 AM	#5
Scott Previously known as ssnapier Joined: May 23rd, 2005 Last Online: 03:03 PM Location: Fort Detrick, Maryland Posts: 1,331 Car: RS2'd 95 Audi S-6 '06 Jetta TDI Rep Power: 24	Something tells e that Mercedes will change their tune on this in short order. Bad press tends to do very bad things to companies like this, especially press that makes people feel unsafe! __________________

July 18th, 2007, 11:56 AM	#9
GraemeH Joined: Apr 19th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Scotland, UK Posts: 1,867 Car: Toyota Corolla. Rawrr. LFS Status: Rep Power: 21	I'm with Mercedes on this. It's not what the tracker is there for, it's there as a service to the car customer, and if they cave in this time police and courts will be quicker to ask for them to do it in the future when there's a bit less of a reason, until they barely need a reason at all. __________________

July 19th, 2007, 01:52 AM	#18
Vette Boss Joined: Nov 14th, 2004 Last Online: 03:56 PM Location: United States, Britain, in time Age: 22 Posts: 2,963 Car: Nissan Altima 3.5-litre SE Rep Power: 33	I do side with MB on this one, as well. Police shouldn't be able to just call up MB and find out where people are. I hope MB continues to fight this order. __________________ 2003 Nissan Altima 3.5SE SHIFT_the future

July 19th, 2007, 03:35 AM	#19
Blind_Io Dispenses buckshot medication for all undead patients. Joined: Apr 5th, 2006 Last Online: 05:59 AM Location: Richmond, California, USA Age: 27 Posts: 8,849 Car: 2004 Honda Civic Coupe 2000 VFR800 Interceptor Rep Power: 112	This will change in a hurry. Lacking a suspect the victim and his/her family now have cause to sue MB for a massive amount of money, and you know the court will go along with punitive damages because MB ignored a court-order. Right or wrong, money talks. __________________ Life is like riding, you have to keep your balance to keep moving. Deacon of Dirt, Head of North American Anti-Environmental Inquisition (Left Coast Division). founder of The Church of Gear's Two Wheeled Sect. Zombie Slayer, Extraordinaire. Reasonable rates, inquire within.

July 18th, 2007, 09:01 AM	#3
jensked Joined: Mar 31st, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Flanders, Belgium Age: 25 Posts: 3,972 Car: RIP Opel Astra -> 2006 Toyota Corolla Wagon Rep Power: 40	Well court order is court order, isn't it? Sue MB!

July 18th, 2007, 10:24 AM	#4
Austere Joined: Nov 26th, 2006 Last Online: March 13th, 2008 Location: Australia Age: 25 Posts: 1,400 Car: '71 Mercedes-Benz 280S Rep Power: 21	A Mercedes-Benz driver should be allowed to run over as many damn people as he wants! This week alone I ran over three of you worthless commoners.

July 18th, 2007, 11:09 AM	#6
jensked Joined: Mar 31st, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Flanders, Belgium Age: 25 Posts: 3,972 Car: RIP Opel Astra -> 2006 Toyota Corolla Wagon Rep Power: 40	Bad press, good press, it's all press some people say.

July 18th, 2007, 11:20 AM	#7
un-dee I hate your sig! Joined: May 21st, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Frankfurt, Germany Age: 24 Posts: 1,393 Car: Mazda MX-3 Rep Power: 25	Am I the only one thinking that this is good? I don't want my car to be tracked anywhere I go.

July 18th, 2007, 12:07 PM	#10
jensked Joined: Mar 31st, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Flanders, Belgium Age: 25 Posts: 3,972 Car: RIP Opel Astra -> 2006 Toyota Corolla Wagon Rep Power: 40	It's not about what it's for and if it's the right thing, it's about a court order. If you don't agree, there are ways to fight that decision. But untill then, the decision has to be obeyed. Dura lex, sed lex

July 18th, 2007, 03:04 PM	#12
SuperStalin Joined: Feb 19th, 2007 Last Online: 02:53 AM Posts: 1,025 Rep Power: 17	Next we'll see mobile phones record the sound and video of our everyday life, so the police can always track down what we did, and when we did it.

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