[freeandfreezing]

Why can't the families who want to track their kids or elderly just buy their own? Tracking devices aren't particularly expensive now. $149 and $30 per month is all a high end tracking device costs.

AT&T offers one, as do a number of other vendors. Their tracking service which uses the kids phone - less secure than something attached to clothing, but good enough for most kids, is something like $9.95 per month.

[USNBandit]

I have an autistic kid and "elopement" is a problem with some of these kids. One of the other guys in my agency had to jump from a helicopter into a swamp to get to a wandering autistic Girl Scout.

Between autism and Alzheimer's, tracking modules would really help local authorities. I'm sure if the government is involved it will cost a lot more. Garmin makes a really nice device for dogs. If you get the government involved it will only cost 5 times as much. Two words for you Obama Phone.