CHICAGO — With dangerous police chases increasingly putting lives and city budgets at risk, a new tech-based solution is being explored: GPS darts.
The technology, called StarChase, allows officers to fire a sticky, magnetic GPS tracker from the front of their squad car onto a fleeing vehicle. Once the dart sticks, the police can back off — tracking the vehicle remotely and arresting the suspect once they stop.
Some departments nationwide are already using it. But should Chicago Police adopt it?
Chicago Faces Rising Liability from Pursuits
The city has paid out millions in lawsuits tied to crashes during chases — including an $80 million jury award last December over a child killed in a 2020 incident. In response, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) now allows vehicle pursuits only under extremely limited, high-risk situations.
CPD has recently expanded its helicopter fleet, which has helped officers monitor suspects from the air. Still, there are typically only one or two helicopters airborne at a time.
How StarChase GPS Dart Works
The StarChase system involves:
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A compressed-air launcher mounted on a patrol car
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A GPS-equipped dart that sticks to a fleeing vehicle
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Up to 8 hours of real-time tracking, according to the company
This allows police to reduce on-road confrontations, improving public and officer safety.
Limitations and Past Failures
Not all results have been positive. In Oak Brook, officers recently used StarChase during a retail theft at Oakbrook Center. The dart successfully tagged the vehicle — but the suspects escaped on foot before police caught up.
Similarly, Oakland, California abandoned the program after multiple failed attempts. Trackers often didn’t stick, and the technology was rarely used effectively, according to local reports.
Privacy Concerns and Civil Liberties
Civil rights advocates, including the ACLU, have expressed concern that GPS darts allow vehicle tracking without a warrant, calling it a potential gateway to mass surveillance.
“[This] enables police to tag and track vehicles in the moment without judicial approval,” the ACLU’s Seattle chapter said.
Such concerns may slow any adoption in Chicago, a city already navigating tense debates over policing and civil rights.
Cost May Also Be a Barrier
Even departments that support the system face financial hurdles. In one Ohio town, it cost $35,000 to equip just four vehicles, plus $1,500/year per car for a subscription — though that includes unlimited darts.
For a city the size of Chicago, fully scaling the system could cost millions — raising questions about whether that money should go toward technology, more officers, or community programs.
Should Chicago invest in StarChase tech to reduce deadly chases — or are there better ways to keep streets safe? Join the conversation and share your views at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
