SYRACUSE -- Cameras in your cab. The idea has drivers like Blue Star Taxi cabbie Daniel Henley talking. Henley says, "A lot of these guys out there sometimes know we're a mark and it'd be nice if we had the cameras."
Glen Hunter owns a cab company and says when the meter starts, anything can happen. Glen says, "We're banks on wheels. And when you got someone out here who is in desperation, you know they say when you hit rock bottom they'll do anything." That's what happened last January, when a taxi driver was killed after a passenger shot him in the head instead of paying his fare.
But the idea of "Big Brother" watching draws mixed reactions from riders. Michael Tortorelli from Syracuse says, "In this day and age, I think it would be something that would be good for society. Unfortunately right now there are people causing those things to happen."
But Matt Burkhole, from Binghamton says, "I think it's a problem. I've ridden in several cabs and I don't think it's anybody's business what's going on inside that cab. I'm just taking a ride and really don't want a whole lot of people looking at me."
Don't expect to see a security camera inside of a taxi cab anytime soon, though. The first reason is cost. At a price of $500 - $1,000 per camera, the owner of Blue Star Taxi says it's simply too expensive. The other reason is efficiency. The recorder and the camera would have to be placed inside of a cab and the owner says if a thief really wanted to he could make off with the video."
A cheaper option is a partition to separate the driver from passengers, but owners say it takes away from riders comfort.
