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Lawsuit challenges Mo. on cellphone tracking

A federal lawsuit is seeking to strike down a new Missouri law making it easier for police to track people's cellphone signals during emergencies.

The cellphone tracking measure is one of many Missouri laws that took effect Tuesday.

A lawsuit filed Monday on behalf of Bolivar resident Mary Hopwood claims the Missouri law conflicts with a federal law governing the information that phone companies can share with law enforcement agencies.

Specifically, the suit claims the Missouri law takes away a phone company's discretion in providing cellphone information to police, and prevents cellphone customers from suing companies for releasing the information without good reason.

Missouri House member Jeanie Lauer, who sponsored the law, said she believed it was appropriate based on legal reviews during the legislative session.

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