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Austin Police To Use New Car Pursuit Tool

The Austin police department is the first in Texas to outfit police cruisers with new pursuit reduction technology.

The Star Chase system contains a miniature GPS module encased in a tracking projectile.

Here's how it works: A compressed-air launcher, mounted behind the grille of a police cruiser, uses a laser to target the fleeing vehicle. It discharges a projectile stick to the vehicle being chased containing that GPS module which will then transmit coordinates back to dispatch. Officers can then view the location and movements of the tagged vehicle in near real-time on a digital roadmap.

The manufacture says through the efficient use of this technology high-speed chases can be replaced with this safer interdiction strategy.

As well as reducing the dangers and risks involved in police pursuits, the Star Chase system saves time, money and most importantly lives.

By Angel Covarrubias