Bauer had her cell phone synched, and her photographer took the device and left in a news car.

Once he got a few miles away, he pushed the "help me" button and waited for her to find him.

Within seconds, she was notified.

"OK, I just got a text message to my cell phone," Bauer said. "It's telling me the device is on River Road in San Marco. Let's see if we can go find it."

Every three to four minutes, her phone received an urgent text. "Help me," it said with a map of where the device was. It didn't take long for her to find it sitting on a bench in San Marco Park.

"I think it's a good idea," said Lauren Dean, who has a 2 1/2-year-old daughter and is expecting another child.

She said a device like this can't hurt, so why not use one.

"Hey, even teens," Dean said. "They say where they are and you know if they're telling the truth or not."

That raises a good ethical question: Is this device an invasion of your child's privacy?

Some might argue yes.

Hurst said parents need to get over feeling guilty.

"Forget that nonsense," Hurst said. "This is a dangerous world. Parents and kids just have to sit down and say, 'We're engaging in this technology because we love you. I'm passionate about you. This is for your safety.'"

For more information on the GPS device, go to www.amberalertgps.com.