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Cellphone Location Without Warrants Becomes Law In Colorado

DENVER (AP) - Colorado authorities will have expanded access to cellphone locations without a warrant in cases of emergencies under a new law.

The measure requires phone companies to give authorities call locations in certain cases. Authorities would have to show that the time required to obtain a search warrant could put a person at risk. Law enforcement would have to show a court within 48 hours that they had probable cause after the fact.

Gov. John Hickenlooper signed the bill into law Monday.

Cellphone locations are already accessed under federal law or in state hostage situations. Supporters of the Colorado bill say the new law will clarify state law and allow the practice in cases where there's no hostage but a life is still in danger.

(© Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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