Vehicle tracker including override feature and related methods

A vehicle tracking system for a vehicle of a type comprising at least one vehicle sensor, the vehicle tracking system comprising:

• a vehicle tracking unit comprising a vehicle position determining device, a wireless communications device, and a controller for cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send vehicle position messages;
• said controller cooperating with said vehicle position determining device and said wireless communications device to send an alert message based upon the vehicle changing location and the at least one vehicle sensor, said controller also being switchable to an override mode to prevent sending of the alert message based upon receiving an alert override message;
• and
• a monitoring station for receiving the vehicle position messages and the alert message, and for sending the alert override message.

A vehicle tracking method for a vehicle of a type comprising at least one vehicle sensor and a vehicle tracking unit, the method comprising:

• selectively sending an alert override message from the monitoring station to the vehicle tracking unit;
• switching the vehicle tracking unit to an override mode based upon receiving the alert override message from the monitoring station;
• and
• sending an alert message from the vehicle tracking unit to the monitoring station based upon the at least one vehicle sensor if the vehicle tracking unit is not in the override mode, and preventing sending of the alert message if the vehicle is in the override mode.