If It's Broken, Fix It
Just caught this article (via @abc7newsBayArea) that surveillance cameras on more than half of MUNI buses were broken or only "partially operational" as of September 2009.
According to documents that the ABC I-Team received, 22 percent of buses and light rail had no working cameras on board, while 30 percent were listed as only "partially operational."Yes, MUNI is facing a $129 million deficit heading into the new fiscal year that began July 1, much to do with the many fare cheats costing it $19 million annually, but the buses must have working cameras in order to deal with the violence and fights that break out, like this one on the 20-Columbus. It's obvious just having an empty, inoperable box in buses is just not doing the trick these days.
Labels: MUNI, Public Transportation, San Francisco, Surveillance
1 Comments:
Hey Steve,
Interesting facts here. I remember my 13 years of riding Boston's public transportation, the MBTA (the T) and recall that none of those trains or buses had any kind of surveillance. I, for one, would have felt better if there had been a watchful eye... but, as you point out, only if it IS watchful.
Security Systems News published a stats piece back in its July issue (found here http://www.securitysystemsnews-digital.com/securitysystemsnews/200907/?noli=1&) based on an IMS study that projected more than 50 percent growth in the mobile surveillance market over the next four years. That growth would be driven, according to IMS, by ROI in the form of mitigated liability for alleged accidents, violent crime, etc. It seems to me that the onus is now on the industry to convince public transportation safety and security directors of the importance (in terms of dollars saved) of having functioning surveillance equipment.
Thanks for the post.
Daniel Gelinas
Associate editor
Security Systems News
dgelinas@securitysystemsnews.com
www.twitter.com/SSN_Dan
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home