Do we put this in the hoax category along with the emails that insist Bill Gates will give us all money or send us to DisneyLand if only we forward this message? I'm guessing that someone just wants to get a few speeders to hang up the bloody phone while driving. I imagine this would've made a far bigger splash in the news if real. If it is real, then how about a link to some real info? Which engineering firms?

From what I understand from Sprint employees who actually do this by Federal subpeona, it's a pain in the ass and not something they could do for everyone at the same time. It's not like you get a little Google Map of all users within a cell zone moving around. Real life is not as cool or technologically advanced as the movies make it out to be.

Sorry to be a kill-joy, but I call hoax. Brian http://www.snopes.com/ http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/internet/a/current_netlore.htm http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/ -----Original Message----- From: On Behalf Of David Nicol enjoy ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Margaret Q <margaretq@gmail.com> Date: Jan 28, 2006 1:24 PM Subject: Re: MO's contract begins feb 1 in KC and St. Louis. REALLY briefly 'cuz I'm swamped. The state of MO has contracted with 2 engineering firms to track divers by cell phone. All cellphones have tracking chips. In modern phones - there is a setting that allows you to disable the tracking device for all but 911 centers (which allows them to track emergency calls in case of instances where you cannot communicate addresses). You cannot disable the 911 tracker. Starting Feb 1, the state of MO will use the SAME tracking channel/whatever its called to track ALL motorists. If you have a cell phone on - it is tracking you and entering your locations, times, speeds into a database. The database allows them to search for specific people's records of movement as well as general area traffic flows. The stated reason is to collect traffic flow information to build better roadways. And the state hopes to begin using it to issue traffic TICKETS by mail (hence all the personal info attached). You speed - they'll know. The deal also lets the state have access to your cell phone records. (Which is actually amazingly easy to do. I could get your cell phone records if I knew JUST your name and social security number and carrier) Missouri is the ONLY state to attempt this thus far. And it is not unlikely that this will end up in court quickly - but until then - the govt is tracking your movement. At this time Kansas has no such plans. The system is being tested in Kansas City and Missouri beginning feb 1. It will eventually be statewide. This was discussed at length on KCUR on Monday. It is also a story we are considering covering for our news show. Citizens of MO are STRONGLY encouraged to write Matt Blunt and the Dept of Transportation and let them know you are opposed to this use of technology and consider it invasive and an infringement on you right to privacy. how this story slipped under everyone's radars (pun half intended) until now is AMAZING. The point is that if your phone is ON - you are being tracked in these areas. Because the signal goes through cell towers - if the phone is turned OFF, the tracking device cannot transmit information. You cannot otherwise disable this. Vehicles with ONSTAR in service will be tracked regardless. You cannot disable that short of cancelling OnStar service. however - turnign off your phone also keeps emergency dispatchers from being able to track you in cases of emergency.