Harris showcases Signal Sentry 1000 solution that detects, locates GPS-jamming sources

“One of the big challenges we have with the police department is that they’re not allowed to arrest anybody, if they have these jammers—only if they’re using them,” he said.

“It’s not illegal for them to possess it; it’s only illegal for them to buy it or to use it. So that makes it a challenge for law enforcement to do anything about catching somebody who was just trying to not be tracked. It becomes an issue.”

Another enforcement problem is one of jurisdiction, Rolli said.

“One of the challenges that we’re working with, from the government’s perspective, is who owns the problem?” Rolli said. “It’s illegal to use it, but it falls under federal jurisdiction for enforcement, and it belongs to the FCC. So, it’s out of the jurisdiction of the local police officers—it’s a federal issue.”

The Signal Sentry system was developed by Exelis, which was purchased by Harris earlier this year. The solution was used during the 2014 Super Bowl, and it has been installed in an unnamed New Jersey city, where about four jamming incidents per month have been detected so far, Rolli said.

“A lot of times, it’s just somebody who’s being tracked—like a plumber or a truck driver—who doesn’t want his boss to know that he’s taking a break or going to the local tavern to have a drink, so  he can disappear for a little while, if he wants to [by using GPS jamming technology],” Rolli said.

“They really only become a problem if they are stationary for a long period of time.”

Rolli said he has met with FCC officials about the GPS-jamming issue and learned that most use of the jamming devices is not done with a criminal purpose in mind.

“They said the biggest users of jamming technology are tavern owners, because they don’t want people cheating on their trivia tests; hotel owners, because they don’t want people using their cell phones or Internet, so they can charge them $6 for a phone call; teachers, because they don’t want kids cheating in class; and preachers, because they don’t want cell phones going off while they’re doing their sermons.”