Dictates the length a search warrant involving a tracking device would be valid and provide a process to extend the time frame of the tracking device for good cause.

Rhode Island Bill: Search Warrants for Tracking Devices

This bill sets clear rules about how long police can use a tracking device — like a GPS tracker placed on a vehicle or other property — under a single search warrant. Rather than leaving the time limit unclear or open-ended, the bill would establish a specific window of time during which a tracking warrant is valid. Once that time period expires, law enforcement would need to stop using the device unless they take additional legal steps.

The bill also creates a formal process for extending a tracking warrant if there is a good reason to do so. Law enforcement would need to go back to a judge and show "good cause" — meaning a legitimate, specific reason — to justify continuing to track someone beyond the original warrant's time limit. This provides a built-in check to prevent tracking from going on indefinitely without court oversight.

This bill primarily affects law enforcement agencies conducting surveillance investigations and Rhode Island residents who could be subject to tracking as part of a criminal investigation. For investigators, it creates clear guidelines to follow when using tracking technology. For residents, it adds a layer of legal protection by requiring judges to regularly review and approve continued use of tracking devices, rather than allowing surveillance to continue without limits.

The bill was introduced in the Rhode Island Senate and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has recommended it be held for further study, meaning it has not yet moved forward toward a vote.