The National Transport Authority (NTA) in Ireland will not make the use of security cameras in taxis and hackneys compulsory after the move met with a huge amount of opposition from drivers. Drivers overwhelmingly objected to the mandatory installation of a security camera in taxis, along with a number of other measures.
According to reports, more than 2,600 submissions were received by the NTA on the issue, with 97.3% stating that they did not think that the equipment should be compulsory.
The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner also raised concerns over possible legal issues resulting from the installation of cameras, stating they would “have a concern about the proportionality and justification of installing CCTV cameras in taxis taking account of the legitimate privacy expectations of vehicle users”. The proposal from the NTA also put forward the installation of a security screen as well as the cameras.
In a joint submission to the NTA, taxi drivers argued that ”the proposal of a partition would create a bad representation of Ireland and give visitors the opinion that they were not in a safe environment both in the car and in our cities”. Drivers also raised concerns over the cost of installing such equipment in an already competitive market, as well as arguing that they use their vehicles in a private capacity when they’re not working.
