By Brendan McLaughlin 

The onboard GPS tracking systems available on many new cars will guide you to the nearest drycleaner, contact authorities in case of an accident and even open the door if you’ve locked your keys inside. But the case of missing Bradenton woman, Susan Fast reveals that GPS systems can also locate dead bodies.    

Manatee County sheriffs looked at the records of the GPS system on Susan’s stolen SUV (not OnStar) and were able to trace the vehicle’s location hour by hour. That allowed them to isolate a promising search area which resulted in the discovery of plastic bags containing Susan Fast’s dismembered body. No happy ending, but her grieving husband can at least bury his wife. 

I realize GPS systems use satellite technology to pinoint  your exact location at any given moment. That’s the point of it. What I didn’t realize is they can create a permanent record which would prove I drove to Krispy Kreme at 4:00 in the morning twice last week, if indeed I had, which I hadn’t.  Considering some people would also prefer to keep their visits to AA meetings, abortion clinics, and Mons Venus on the down low, the technology raises some interesting privacy issues.  

Monitored systems like Onstar put all this information, plus your speed and use of seatbelts in the hands of a private company. Are you O.K. with that?