State lawmakers push to rein in police spying

A number of state legislatures and courts are checking in on law enforcement spy games.

The push back comes as the rise of mobile communication technologies intersects with the militarization of police forces across the nation.

Using advanced technology, law enforcement agencies are able to track without a warrant the location of a suspect’s cell phone, such as in Florida.

While state and local police forces are hoping to keep their eavesdropping abilities, state lawmakers are working to rein them in.

In Minnesota, for example, state lawmakers are considering two bills — HF 2553 and HF 2558 — that would require law enforcement to obtain a warrant “to receive” the location information of cell phones and other electronic devices.

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