The only way that you can be tracked via your mobile phone is from location data provided by your phone company.
The system needs to know where you are so that, when someone calls you, your incoming calls are directed to a mast close to you. (If everyone's calls were sent to every phone mast in the world the system wouldn't be able to cope). For that reason your phone periodically sends out a signal announcing "I'm here" to phone masts nearby. (If you've ever left a mobile phone close to a radio you've probably heard some interference whenever that signal goes out from your phone).
Your phone provider's system notes which masts have picked up that signal and directs your calls to those masts. (It actually directs your calls to a slightly wider area, as you might have been in a moving vehicle when the "I'm here" signal went out).
So, even if you're not making or receiving any calls, your phone periodically tells your phone provider (and anyone they pass the information to, such as the police) roughly where you are. However if someone wanted to know where you were at an exact time (which wasn't when your phone would normally be sending out an "I'm here" message) they need to get your phone to communicate with the local masts by sending (or possibly receiving) a call.