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Senate advances bill to let police request phone‑location pings in life‑threatening cases
Summary
The Utah Senate advanced House Bill 104, a sponsor‑backed measure creating a streamlined process for law enforcement to request wireless providers’ location information in cases where someone is believed to be at risk of death or serious injury; supporters cited the Kelsey Smith case, while critics warned the language may be too broad on warrant and scope.
Senator Daniel R. Davis, sponsor of House Bill 104, told the Senate the measure is aimed at allowing law enforcement to quickly obtain the location of a wireless device when a person is believed to be at risk of death or serious physical injury. “When law enforcement asked the local wireless provider for the ping records, it would pinpoint the location,” Davis said, describing the 2007 Kelsey Smith abduction as the bill’s motivating example.
The bill, Davis said, “affords immunity to wireless companies that choose to give information.” He added that carriers would not be required to turn over records absent a warrant but could voluntarily provide information in emergency requests to help…
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