MV (King County Metro) is Spying on Seattle and King County Taxi Drivers
Back when Yellow Cab was a taxi co-op (BYG) and PSD was solely an affiliated dispatch company, comprising what was then known jointly as the Yellow Cab Taxi Association, all the cabs were equipped with City/County mandated cameras. Upon entering the cab, the passenger would see, if they were paying attention, a notification that there was a continuous taping of all passenger behavior by video camera in the interior of the cab, alerting them because the passengers had (and have) the right to know they were being taped. Unlike President Nixon back in 1968-74, who audiotaped much of various conversations with world leaders and others minus their knowledge, BYG wanted its customers to know what was occurring, making it clear that the video could be used against them in any type of legal action.
But now I have found out, in perhaps with some kind of collaboration or coordination with Puget Sound Dispatch by MV and other agencies holding accounts, that secret videotaping by passengers (MV employees?) posing as MV clients has occurred over at least the past week and probably much longer. All of us Yellow independent operators were only told about this the past few days through a fleet message and a paragraph in the current online newsletter. Prior to this, none of us had any idea this was happening, and worse, we were never asked permission if we wanted to participate in this kind of owner operator surveillance. I for one have no interest in being spied upon and enduring its potential consequences.
In both notifications, PSD stated that the videotaping resulted in one driver being punished by the immediate removal from all accounts, with no statements made concerning any formal or legal decision making processes, making no reference to any City/County hearings over the matter. In other words, it seems PSD brought the driver in, saying, "Boom! you are guilty!" and here is your punishment, making it clear that all of its owner drivers will be subjected to the same instantaneous judgement minus legal representation or appeal.
How this is all fair I can't imagine, and since it isn't, I hereby withdraw any implied permission PSD thinks it has with video or audiotaping me without prior notification. And when I have the time, I will have a sticker made stating just that, that no taping of any kind is allowed in my cab.
My last thought is, were the City and County told in advance this kind of taping would be occurring, somehow making them party to this? I doubt it because its clear PSD feels it can act with immunity, doing whatever it wants to do without consequence. Ah yes, the beat goes on and on and on! When will it ever end?
Could the City of Seattle be named as an Accomplice to Murder?
The sordid parade of scantily clad women along Aurora continues, seemingly completely unconcerned about police intervening in their activities. Having tried and failed to get the City of Seattle's attention to all this, I have one last comment to make, and that is mentioning the name of that infamous "The Dating Game" serial killer, Rodney Alcala, he of perhaps 130 murders, someone who died July 24th while awaiting his execution. This guy was nuts, once appearing on that dumbbell TV program "The Dating Game," taking time off from his killing spree to entertain and entice a young lovely.
I bring his name up because this is the kind of man who would, without hesitation, kill a defenseless woman plying Seattle's "sex worker" streets. And given the encouragement obviously provided by the City of Seattle to these women, wouldn't it make sense, if one of them is killed by a customer, that Seattle be considered an accomplice to first-degree murder? What kind of man does the City of Seattle think these guys are, these crazy men buying sex off the streets? If the City Council members and the Mayor thought about it, they would realize some of them are a new Rodney Alcala looking for additional victims. And with that, I leave the subject to someone else.
No comments:
Post a Comment