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New Tech Allows Parents To Track Teens On The Road

MIAMI (CBS4) ― As every parent with a gray hair or two will tell you, once kids grow to be teenagers it's almost impossible to tell where they've been or where they're headed to – especially if they have a driver's license.

But now new technology can help every concerned parent keep track of their kids when they are behind the wheel. Teen Traks is a silent GPS system about the size of a man's wallet that can be installed into any vehicle in minutes. Once in place and activated, every five minutes the device reports where the car is located, and how fast it's going. Parents can find out the information with the click of a button, or have text message alerts sent to them if the car goes too fast or out of a designated section of the city.

Shawn Stockman, the mother of an 18-year-old, admits she was hesitant about Teen Traks after first but after seeing what it could do, she had a change of heart.

"I think this is a real good safety tool for parents," said Stockman. "I think that would take the peer pressure off of them because if they were going to go do something they weren't supposed to do they wouldn't be able to do it because of it."

Stockman's son Nathan agrees, saying he drives differently knowing he's being watched.

"Sometimes you get the itch to go a little faster than you're supposed to be going and that I would say would have the most effect," said Nathan.

The device has nothing to do with police or tickets. No matter what Teen Traks detects, only the teen's parents will know. The Teen Traks unit costs about $300 and the service runs about $20 a month.

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