While communities around the country are using GPS devices to track employees in government-issued vehicles, it will be some time before government workers here will have to worry about that sort of surveillance.
The Associated Press reported earlier this week that communities from Long Island to Denver are saving money by using GPS devices to design more efficient routes — and to catch employees shopping, working out at the gym or taking care of other personal business "on the clock" in government vehicles.
Pima County has no plans to make GPS systems standard issue in government vehicles here, but the county plans to add them to sheriff's vehicles and area fire district vehicles as part of a new regional communications system.
Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said GPS would allow for quicker, more efficient dispatch in emergencies and help locate officers who aren't responding to radio calls and may need assistance.
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There are no plans to add GPS to any other county vehicles, though Huckelberry said he could see advantages to it.
The city of Tucson uses GPS systems on its SunTran and VanTran buses as well as for its Fire Department — which uses it as an automatic vehicle locator to dispatch the nearest engine or ambulance to a scene.
The city is actively trying to institute GPS systems for its Police Department and for its Environmental Services Department, said Mike Letcher, deputy city manager. The GPS would be used in garbage trucks for efficiencies such as shortening routes and saving gas, Letcher said.
Transportation Director Jim Glock said his department does not actively monitor the GPS on the SunTran and VanTran buses, but will check the records if there are complaints such as late buses. Glock said a driver would be approached and talked to if GPS records showed they did something wrong.
City Manager Mike Hein said he is unaware of any city employee being disciplined because of GPS records.
