THE G-TAG that CAN SAVE LIVES

The Headline in the Herald Sun, 20^th of June 2025

“Crime out of control’, 

Six people were killed by stolen cars.”

“Stolen vehicles were involved in 763 collisions in the last 12 months”

… yes, crime is out of control, and charging the highest number of offenders in history is not stemming the tide. A new way is needed.

The G-Tag can,

Save Lives-              De-weaponise the motor car, stolen or not.

Rapidly locate victims-

Any criminality involving vehicle use can be tracked in real time, and vehicles can be disabled and recovered.

Reduce crime –        By increasing the ability for perpetrators to be caught and the stolen vehicle disabled, they are rendered useless to crooks before they commit the crime.

Cost positive –         Recover stolen vehicles before the perpetrators trash them.

Fine recovery –      Immobilise fine dodgers’ vehicles until payment or arrangements are made.

World First-             There is no evidence of any attempts elsewhere to achieve a similar initiative and the outcomes it offers.

Make Victoria a leader in an innovative State.

Introduction

For many people, their car is their most important and valued asset, and to have it stolen is devastating. Unfortunately, motor cars, whether stolen or not, are also commonly associated with crimes including home invasioan, hit-run, robbery, drugs, rape, murder, domestic violence and now Terrorism.

The relatively new experience of motor vehicles being used as a weapon either against Police or as a weapon of mass destruction, terror-related or not, is a recent phenomenon. However, the introduction of this new level of violence in the West has brought a new urgency to the G-Tag.

When fully implemented, the G-Tag is the only stratagem that will stop vehicles from being used as weapons.

The Bourke Street massacre should be justification alone for introducing the G-Tag. Unless you live under a rock, we know that it will only be a matter of time before we experience the devastation of truck or car bombs, as is all too common elsewhere in the world.

The multiple killings, countless injuries, millions of dollars of theft and massive damage are caused because current legislation is focused exclusively on the driver, not the vehicle. Until that changes, the cars available to drivers will continue to wreak havoc.

With over 5 million vehicles registered in Victoria in 2023, vehicles are a vast and valuable state asset that needs to be protected.

The traditional view is that the risks posed by the motor car should be managed by legislation focusing on the driver. Unfortunately, the success of this approach is problematic at best, with minimal success.

‘The best way to reduce any crime is to increase in the perpetrator’s mind the likelihood that they will get caught – penalties in themselves have limited impact because the perpetrator does not commit the act to get caught and never expects to get caught.

When the probability of being caught fails to dissuade, we need the ability to intervene to minimise the impact of the behaviour.

Authorities (Police) should be able to safely slow down or stop particular vehicles in the interests of public safety and/or law enforcement.

Without diminishing the current Law and Order response, there is a need to think through and discuss alternatives – that alternative is the vehicle.

GPS Tracking

GPS tracking is widely used in the community; the devices record and re-transmit their location to a satellite-based global positioning system. These re-transmitted signals allow the identification of the vehicle, its location, and its route. It also communicates the vehicle’s speed.

That route can be recorded for days or weeks and can identify which vehicle was driven in a particular location at a previous time. This ability will allow the Police to identify the car used in a crime. As important as the current location of the vehicle is, the historical routes the car has taken, perhaps, has more investigative and evidentiary value.

An example, and there are many, would be a drive-by shooting in the early hours. Witnesses can usually supply the time of the shots; with a G-Tag, the Police could identify which vehicles were driven in that location at the time given.

Central to this proposal will be fitting tracking devices (G Tags) to every vehicle in the Victorian fleet.

Although this forms part of the first stage of this proposal, it needs to be seen through the prism of advantages to the community, safety and Crime Prevention/Minimisation strategy, albeit that an economic case may be produced for the system raising alternative revenue streams for the Government, a user pays system for registration. The latter is the most equitable method of raising revenue.

Setting the case for part one of this proposal – the G-Tag

The advantages of developing a GPS locating system, or G-Tag, for the entire Victorian road fleet will be no small feat; however, the return will be enormous.

1. Theft of Motor vehicles and machinery –

With a G-Tag, stolen vehicles can be located quickly; the focus is on the property, not the perpetrator, which will serendipitously lead to rapidly detecting perpetrators. This will lead to reduced costs for insurers and reduced user premiums.

A G-Tag will assist,

Community safety – 

Reducing the demand for Police time and assist in arresting perpetrators.

G-Tags will influence the perpetrators, knowing the chances of getting caught have escalated and may dissuade many would-be offenders. What the statistics do not show is the hardship caused and the danger posed to the community by vehicle theft..

Victims of Domestic violence. Using postcodes to quarantine victims, the G-Tag will enable Police to intervene when postcode boundaries are crossed by perpetrators breaching a Family Violence Order, alerting Police to reduce the risk to the victim.

Missing Persons-. G-Tags can locate vehicles of missing persons before self-harm. Suicidal victims are generally found after their demise when the family have contacted the Police over concerns. Still, Police driving around searching every nook and cranny has historically been proven ineffective and usually does not end in locating the individual before it is too late.

G-Tags will be able to save lives by providing a chance to get professional help to desperate people.

Rural application- The application in Rural and remote Victoria is very sound; consider being able to locate a tractor on a large remote property or a driver overdue to destinations, particularly in times of natural disaster. This will also reduce the number of unnecessary searches.

The applications of G-Tag technology can be extended to include watercraft, recreational vehicles, and machinery.

Technology instead of human resources. The thousands of hours expended by emergency services, particularly the Police, can be dramatically reduced in multiple circumstances by the G-Tag Policing will become more efficient and effective, reducing pressure on valuable Police resources.

Criminal activity –

Terrorism Investigations would have the advantage of monitoring vehicles using the G-Tags without intrusion to better understand the risks posed by suspects.

The use of vehicles as a weapon in Terrorism is commonplace in the current war zones. It will likely appear in Australia at some stage, and being prepared will save lives.

Criminal Behaviour –There is a current spate of home invasions where perpetrators physically confront victims in their homes by forced entry to gain access to keys to steal high-end motor vehicles. This type of activity (home invasion) is on the rise; there is a substantial risk of serious harm, if not death, to a victim. The ability to track these vehicles by G-Tag and immobilise them is desirable to the victims and the Police.

Illicit Drugs must be transported in vehicles at some stage. Access to G-Tag technology will provide invaluable assistance in managing the importation and trafficking of drugs.

Hoon drivers can be monitored and removed from our roads. Known hoons’ vehicles can be tagged within the G-Tag system, and an alarm indicating when, like tagged, vehicles are identified by the system to be congregating can allow Police to intervene before the dangers escalate.

Police Pursuits – This technology virtually eliminates the need for pursuits, and disabling the car by G-Tag reduces risk to the Community, the Police and even the offender.

Emergency vehicles can easily and reliably be located and managed during civil emergencies. For example, incident managers could recognise the precise locations of fire appliances during bushfire outbreaks to direct them to where they are most needed or away from impending danger.

Arial surveillance – Currently undertaken by the Police Airwing, there are limitations with availability, cost and response times. The G-Tag will not replace the need for aerial surveillance as a Policing tool. Still, the G-Tag will significantly enhance the effectiveness of the Air Wing, reducing operating costs.

Legal implications – The data recorded in the G-Tag system has evidentiary value, as do E-Tags and Security Cameras. The potential for the improved data available from G-Tags will provide data of substantial evidentiary value for Prosecution and Defence in equal benefit, further improving our judicial system.

Revenue streams

The advantage of this system is that it would allow the Government to use this mechanism to charge registrations on a user-pay basis, which is the most equitable mechanism. In addition, implementing part two of this proposal would eliminate the need for enforcement of recalcitrant individuals by placing the vehicle in ‘limp home’ mode until the financial liabilities are met.

Setting the stage for Part 2 of this proposal using G-Tag.

The first part of this proposal, using converted E-Tag, will only reach a percentage of the Victorian fleet unless a case can be presented for voluntary take-up of G-Tags based on the E-Tag system. However, the advantage of converting E-Tags to G-Tags is that it will ensure a rapid introduction to the program.

Part 2 introduces more sophisticated G-Tags (currently available technology) that are hard-wired into the vehicle’s electronics and fitted where they cannot be easily removed or interfered with. This technology adds a new layer where the vehicle’s electronics can be activated remotely to put it into a limp-home mode (reducing its top speed to 80 KPH) before activating the engine immobiliser to halt the vehicle. The only limitations will be that certain vehicles do not have the limp home mode and would be stopped at a safe place or shut down when stationary.

The upgraded G-Tags must be fitted to all new vehicles, pre-delivery (amending Vehicle Standards)and second-hand vehicles, as part of the roadworthy process. In addition, a moratorium would be required to set a reasonable time for all cars to comply, similar to other safety initiatives, including the introduction of seat belts.

Stage 2 will allow the Police to intervene to stop the commission or continuance of a crime, which is the primary role of the Police.

Reestablishing the vehicle’s functionality when recovered or when it is no longer a threat is a technical issue that should not prove insurmountable. If it can be switched off, it can be switched back on; it is just a matter of protocols.

The cost debate

There is a cost, but as this is an innovation, the technology development costs of G-Tag would be well offset by marketing the initiative interstate and overseas. In addition, a fee for service arrangement, assistance with setup, and a fee for intellectual property would generate substantial income.

Part of the development costs could be covered by the insurance industry and TAC, both of which stand to gain considerably. In addition, there would be nominal cost recovery from the users when installing a device into the existing fleet – manufacturers would be required to fit the device pre-delivery on all new vehicles.

An offset to the toll operator’s contribution (modifying E-Tags)will be the income generated when tracking devices are fitted to the Victorian fleet to include the E-Tag function in the G-Tag; effectively, the E-Tag would be redundant.

Car owners will have to bear some costs, which will be subsidised for welfare recipients, but the price should not be prohibitive, below $200.

The proposal to introduce a pay-as-you-use system for registration, third-party and comprehensive insurance, and fuel excise, which are currently avoided by the increased uptake of electric vehicles, will contribute to the setup and recurring costs of the system.

The system could, therefore, potentially protect innocent victims from financial hardship due to vehicle damage.

The initiative could be made cost-positive.

Technology

Anybody who owns a smartphone or has a Satellite navigation device is acutely aware of the power and application of technology.

Currently advertised on the internet for $35, it is a tracking device that can be attached to a vehicle and linked to a smartphone. The technology exists, is small, and relatively cheap.

The technology for a fully operating G-Tag system is currently available.

 The Privacy Issue,

In the 1980s, a very vocal minority saw themselves as the keepers of our privacy. They objected to installing the eight CCTV cameras for a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Melbourne many years ago. They vocalised the prying eyes and the abuse that would occur should the cameras not be removed immediately after the conference was finished- “It’s a Police State” was the group’s mantra.

Their plaintive cries are now somewhat humorous when we look around at the number of cameras that watch us daily. Still, there is no community concern as it has been demonstrated that they serve the greater good, and law-abiding citizens do not care if they are watched. Indeed, governments actively encourage more expansive use of CCTV in public places, and the take-up of private CCTV systems – including those monitoring public spaces – is impressive, but the information they gather is not regulated and open to abuse, yet we still use them widely.

This initiative has a distinct advantage over CCTV cameras. The Cameras have a deterrent effect and assist with identifying perpetrators, but they cannot stop or prevent the continuation of a crime – the G-Tag can.

Anybody worried about the movement of their vehicle being monitored should realise there are over 5 million vehicles in Victoria, so nobody would have the time, the resources or the interest to monitor every car – it will be enough just monitoring vehicles that are of particular interest. Law-abiding citizens just hide in the crowd.

Furthermore, although not common knowledge, most high-end vehicles sold in recent years already have this technology. They are part of the aftermarket service that the manufacturers provide as a mechanism to update electronics and identify the need for roadside assistance.

Effectively, a reasonable percentage of the population drives around oblivious that their movements are being or can be monitored by a third party.

Impact on Judicial processes.

Implementing this system will provide the Judiciary with an alternative to sentencing offenders (by regulating vehicle use), particularly for the less serious traffic infringements and criminal activity in some cases.
Currently, lives are ruined financially and otherwise by fines and driving restrictions that cause offenders to lose employment and the capacity to pay fines.

Unintended double jeopardy can ruin many young people’s lives. Correcting bad behaviour by bad outcomes lessens, and, in certain circumstances, destroys the chance of future compliance. Instead, in desperation, it can lead, particularly young people, towards crime and drugs to escape what they see as a hopeless situation from which they see no escape.

The G-Tag system can be used to manage the use of a vehicle on certain roads and/or times to allow Offenders to continue in employment, enabling them to pay the fines but still having their mobility curtailed to serve as a punishment.

We are not suggesting this facility become run-of-the-mill, but for cases where a driver may exceed .05 after a reading shows residual alcohol or drugs in the low range. Or where breaches of Licence offences and registration matters can be managed without ruining lives.

The increase in penalty recovery would justify offenders retaining employment and avoid forcing people onto welfare and damaging the state’s productivity.

System Security

There will need to be legislation that includes safeguards for privacy and safeguards against tampering with the system, either the physical equipment or any signal emitted.

Conclusion

The G-Tag is a proactive and novel proposal, but many far more radical ideas that once seemed farfetched are now accepted as the mainstream norm, the World Wide Web, television and the telephone!

We now accept security cameras as a way of life and the dreaded speed cameras as an acceptable inconvenience for the greater good.

It will take leadership and innovative thought to implement this proposal; however, the advantages to the community make it a worthwhile project.

This is an innovation that will save lives commensurate with its implementation.

• Minimise Police pursuits by number and duration.
• Enable the arrest of mobile criminals safely.
• Monitor criminal activity.
• Determine the identity of perpetrators when the crime was not witnessed, but a vehicle was involved (historical G-Tag data of the scene)
• Tag domestic violence perpetrators and protect victims with a virtual shield.
• Reducing a criminal’s ability to use a vehicle in committing a crime.
• Reducing criminals’ ability to burn stolen vehicles to hide DNA.
• Locate missing people intent on self-harm.
• Increase revenue through greater enforcement of civil compliance.
• Locate and save people in natural disasters.
• Reduce police resources in trying to locate missing persons.

An additional attraction of this technology is that it will allow a user-pays system to be developed instead of registration and other taxes as a reliable and equitable mechanism to tax road users.

Recommendation

The Victoria Police and the Government must establish a working party to prepare the business case for this proposal, including the fiscal imperatives that will make this proposal practical and cost-positive.  Establish a G-Tag Authority to develop the technology and design the model for the ongoing management and operation of the system.

Ivan W. Ray

Chief Executive Officer

Community Advocacy Alliance Inc