GPS Tracking Investigations in Michigan
Legally authorized GPS tracking for vehicles and assets — court-admissible location data, movement histories, and real-time intelligence for attorneys, businesses, and private clients throughout Southeastern Michigan.
What GPS Tracking Can Reveal
A GPS tracking device placed on a vehicle can answer questions that weeks of traditional surveillance cannot. Where does someone go when they say they are working? Are company vehicles being used after hours? Is a spouse visiting locations they have never disclosed? GPS tracking produces an objective, time-stamped record of every location a vehicle visits — evidence that is difficult to dispute and highly persuasive in legal proceedings.
Who Uses GPS Tracking Investigations
Infidelity & Relationship Investigations
GPS tracking is one of the most effective tools in a spousal investigation. Rather than relying on a surveillance team to follow a subject every day, a properly placed tracker records every trip — addresses visited, times of arrival and departure, and patterns of behavior that may confirm or refute suspicions of infidelity. This data is then used to direct targeted surveillance to the locations and times most likely to produce visual evidence.
Employee & Fleet Monitoring
Businesses with field employees or company vehicle fleets have a legitimate interest in knowing how those assets are being used. GPS tracking can confirm whether employees are actually at the job sites they report, whether company vehicles are being used for personal purposes or after-hours activities, and whether mileage and time records are accurate. Our investigators provide detailed reports suitable for HR proceedings, insurance claims, and civil litigation.
Child Custody & Family Law
In contested custody matters, a parent's actual movements and activities can be highly relevant to the court's assessment of fitness and credibility. GPS tracking can document whether a parent is taking a child to locations prohibited by a custody order, whether a subject is engaging in activities inconsistent with their representations to the court, and whether a vehicle is being operated safely. Our findings are documented in a format suitable for submission to family court.
Asset Recovery & Repossession Support
When a debtor is concealing a vehicle or other asset subject to repossession or court order, GPS tracking can locate the asset and document its whereabouts. We work with attorneys, lenders, and repossession companies to provide location intelligence that supports lawful recovery of collateral. All tracking is conducted in compliance with applicable Michigan and federal law.
Workers' Compensation Fraud
Workers' compensation fraud costs Michigan businesses millions of dollars each year. GPS tracking combined with video surveillance is one of the most effective ways to document that a claimant is engaging in physical activities inconsistent with their reported injury. Location data showing visits to gyms, job sites, or recreational facilities — combined with video evidence — creates a compelling record for insurance carriers, defense attorneys, and employers.
Corporate & Business Investigations
Corporate investigations frequently require tracking the movements of a subject to document meetings with competitors, visits to undisclosed business locations, or activities that breach fiduciary duties or employment agreements. GPS tracking provides an objective record of a subject's movements that can be used to direct surveillance resources and to corroborate or contradict witness testimony in civil litigation.
GPS Tracking & Michigan Law
Michigan law is unambiguous: a licensed private investigator may place a GPS tracking device on a vehicle for any legitimate investigative purpose — including gathering evidence for use in court proceedings. That same law makes it a criminal offense for anyone else to do the same thing. If you need location evidence that will hold up in a courtroom, the only legal path is a licensed professional.
Licensed PIs May Track for Any Investigative Purpose — MCL § 338.822
Michigan's Private Detective License Act (MCL § 338.822) authorizes licensed private investigators to conduct surveillance and gather evidence on behalf of clients for any lawful purpose — including divorce and infidelity cases, child custody disputes, workers' compensation fraud, corporate misconduct, asset investigations, and any other matter that may result in legal proceedings. There is no restriction on the type of case or the reason for the investigation. A licensed PI may deploy GPS tracking whenever it serves the client's legitimate need for evidence. Insite Investigations operates under this authority on every engagement.
Everyone Else Is Breaking the Law — MCL § 750.539l
Michigan Compiled Laws § 750.539l makes it a criminal offense for any private citizen to install, place, or use a GPS tracking device on a motor vehicle to monitor another person's movements — regardless of who owns the car, regardless of the relationship between the parties, and regardless of the reason. A spouse, a parent, an employer, a business partner — none of them are exempt. A first offense is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. A second offense is a felony. The law does not care about your intentions. Do not place a GPS device on your own.
Illegally Gathered Evidence Will Destroy Your Case
Evidence obtained by a private citizen in violation of MCL § 750.539l is inadmissible in Michigan courts. Worse, it hands opposing counsel a weapon — your illegal conduct becomes the story, not the subject's behavior. Judges take a dim view of parties who break the law to gather evidence, and it can damage your credibility across every aspect of your case. Evidence gathered by a licensed investigator, documented with proper chain of custody and obtained in full compliance with Michigan law, is a different matter entirely. It is admissible, defensible, and persuasive.
Any Case. Any Reason. One Legal Option.
Whether you are building a divorce case, documenting a custody violation, investigating an employee, pursuing a fraud claim, or gathering evidence for any civil or criminal proceeding — if GPS tracking is part of your strategy, it must be done by a licensed Michigan private investigator. Insite Investigations holds an active Michigan PI license, carries professional liability coverage, and has produced GPS tracking evidence admitted in Michigan courts across a wide range of case types. Call us. We can track for any legitimate investigative purpose — legally.
Patrick Ong is a licensed Michigan private investigator (License #3701208038) and a member of the Michigan Council of Professional Investigators. All GPS tracking operations conducted by Insite Investigations are fully documented, legally authorized, and prepared to withstand scrutiny in any legal proceeding.
Our GPS Tracking Process
Confidential Consultation
We begin with a confidential consultation to understand your situation, the legal parameters of your case, and the specific intelligence you need. We advise you on whether GPS tracking is appropriate and legally permissible for your circumstances.
Device Placement
Our investigators place a high-quality GPS tracking device on the target vehicle in a secure, concealed location. We use professional-grade equipment with extended battery life capable of tracking for weeks without recharging.
Data Collection & Monitoring
The device transmits real-time location data that our team monitors throughout the operation. We track every trip, every stop, and every location visited — building a comprehensive movement history for the subject vehicle.
Targeted Surveillance
GPS data is used to direct our surveillance team to the locations and times most likely to produce visual evidence. This dramatically increases the efficiency of surveillance operations and reduces the cost to our clients.
Device Recovery
At the conclusion of the operation, our investigators recover the GPS device. All data is preserved and documented with chain of custody for use in legal proceedings.
Detailed Written Report
We provide a comprehensive written report summarizing all tracking data, including maps, timestamps, addresses visited, and duration of each stop. The report is formatted for use in court, arbitration, or insurance proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about GPS tracking investigations in Michigan.
Start a GPS Tracking Investigation
Speak directly with a licensed Michigan private investigator. All consultations are strictly confidential.