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Sen. Mike Crider (R-Greenfield) was inspired by a constituent's near-fatal tragedy to write legislation criminalizing electronically tracking someone without their knowledge.
Lauren Chapman/IPB NewsPeople who track others electronically without their consent will be committing a crime in Indiana under legislation headed to the governor’s desk.
Lawmakers gave final approval to a bill Monday that developed out of a near-fatal tragedy.
An Indiana woman named Millie Park was nearly stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend after he tracked her down via a GPS device he had put on her car without her knowing.
Sen. Mike Crider (R-Greenfield) saw Park’s story and wrote SB 161 to criminalize electronic tracking, with some exceptions.
Crider said her story is not an isolated one.
“I got a call from a lobbyist that was at an auto dealership over the weekend," Crider said. "A technician came in and said, ‘Whose red car is this out there?’ A gentleman raised his hand and said, ‘Well, it’s my daughter’s car.’ And he said, ‘Do you know there’s a tracker on her car?’”
READ MORE: House committee scales back penalties for new crime of electronically tracking someone
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Family members are still allowed to electronically track each other under the bill, unless there’s a restraining order in place.
Brandon is our Statehouse bureau chief. Contact him at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.
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