Methods and systems for determining positioning information for driver compliance

A method for determining positioning information of a vehicle operated by a driver for driver compliance, the method comprising:

• receiving, with an electronic processor, vehicle data from a diagnostic port in a vehicle;
• determining, with the electronic processor, whether a base unit includes a local source of positioning information;
• in response to the base unit including the local source of positioning information, determining whether a positioning information from the local source of positioning information meets or exceeds an accuracy threshold and an availability threshold;
• and
• in response to the base unit not including the local source of positioning information, or the positioning information from the local source of positioning information not meeting or exceeding the accuracy threshold, the availability threshold, or both, sending a request to a portable communication device for additional positioning information.

An apparatus for determining positioning information of a vehicle for driver compliance, the apparatus comprising:

• a connector for physically coupling the apparatus to a diagnostic port in the vehicle;
• a transceiver for communicating with a portable communication device;
• and
• an electronic processor configured to connect to an electronic control unit of the vehicle and to the transceiver and configured to
• receive vehicle data from the electronic control unit,
• determine whether the apparatus includes a local source of positioning information,
• in response to determining that the apparatus includes the local source of positioning information, determine whether a positioning information from the local source of positioning information meets or exceeds an accuracy threshold and an availability threshold;
• and
• in response to determining that the apparatus does not include the local source of positioning information, or the positioning information from the local source of positioning information not meeting or exceeding the accuracy threshold, the availability threshold, or both, send a request to the portable communication device for additional positioning information.