Abstract Appeal -- Frye Hearing Not Required for GPS Evidence

Link: Abstract Appeal -- by Matt Conigliaro. Florida lawyers read Matt Conigliario's excellent appellate law blog, Abstract Appeal, to keep up with current Florida law. This recent case from the Third District Court of Appeal discusses the impact of the Frye decision on the admissibility of scientific or technology evidence in trials. Generally, the rule states that new technology or science requires a separate "Frye" hearing to determine its reliability before a Court will allow its introduction and its weighing by the trier of fact.  In this case, GPS technology in an automobile was found to be ordinary and reliable technology and admissible without a Frye hearing. Makes one wonder whether computer evidence compiled from a Microsoft Windows machine would be admissible, doesn't it? Microsoft is promising that its new operating system, Vista, will be more secure, have increased performance and an improved user interface. Okay, and I am going to keep all of my New Year's Resolutions.