Cell phone tips of crime and 'reasonable suspicion'

With the proliferation of cell phone use comes an increase in the number of criminal investigations arising from cell phone reports of ongoing or just completed criminal activity. Read how traditional "reasonable suspicion" analysis has evolved in response to the use of this new technology.

by Rex R. Anderegg

Few technological innovations have had greater impact on the reporting of crime than the cell phone. According to the Cellular Telephone Industry Association, there are currently more than 175 million cell phone subscribers in the United States, and a recent study revealed more than 54 percent of drivers carry wireless phones in their vehicles.1 This article examines how traditional "reasonable suspicion" analysis has evolved to respond to the use of this new technology in reporting crimes.

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