Commonwealth v. Suarez-Irizzary

CHARLES, J.,

As technology increases, the law must keep pace. When maps were first created, they represented a cartographer’s “best estimate” of where things were located. Since then, measuring wheels, odometers, airplane photography and now global satellite imaging have moved cartography from the realm of human estimating to satellite-verified pinpoint accuracy. When the legal system needs to establish distance with precision, it should not eschew the accuracy that technology now affords in favor of more flawed and primitive means of measurement.

In this case, a dispute has arisen with respect…