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| Science & Technology |
| Suffolk sheriffs now equipped with GPS-launching dart guns to track fleeing suspects without high-speed chases |
| 2026-04-24 |
| Suffolk County sheriff’s deputies are testing out high-tech guns that will be mounted on police car bumpers to fire GPS darts onto suspects’ vehicles’ during high-speed chases. The new technology, known as StarChase, already led to the tracking and arrest of a drunk driver who refused to pull over, authorities announced Thursday. The program was launched several weeks ago and is being piloted by the department’s DWI enforcement unit — the first agency in the county with access to the tech, according to officials. Once a driver makes it clear they have no intentions of pulling over, police are authorized to shoot the adhesive GPS tag onto the back of the fleeing vehicle, authorities said. It isn’t clear what the dart guns’ maximum range is. The dart then latches onto the car, giving officers and dispatch the ability to monitor the target’s real-time location, speed and direction without having to chase them through the streets. Once the driver believes they got away and comes to a stop, the tracking officers are then able to swoop in and make the surprise arrest. |
| Posted by:Skidmark |