State Senate okays GPS for restraining orders

MADISON (AP) -- The state Senate has passed a bill that would allow judges to place restraining order violators on GPS monitoring.

The Department of Corrections would track the violator's movements and notify police if the violator enters an area he or she must avoid under the restraining order. Anyone on monitoring would have to pay a $200 surcharge to cover tracking costs.

The Senate passed the bipartisan measure 31-2 Tuesday. It now goes to the Assembly.

The Senate approved another bill by voice vote Tuesday that would increase the penalty for domestic abusers who contact victims from a $1,000 civil forfeiture to a misdemeanor punishable by up to $10,000 in fines and nine months behind bars.

The Assembly already has approved the bill. It goes next to Gov. Scott Walker.

CLICK HERE to watch a FOX6 Investigation about the private use of GPS trackers