There is absolutely no expectation of privacy on a public bus. If you are planning on doing some crime perhaps using public transportation is a poor choice.

    The cameras were installed at the suggestion of the union that represents drivers because it was felt the cameras would be a deterrent to verbal and the occasional physical assault of drivers and passengers. I for one support the right for drivers and passengers to be free of violence while going about their business. I also don't mind bullies and thugs be punished when they victimize someone. Unlike the subjective testimony of eyewitnesses, cameras can more or less objectively create a record what happened.

    That said, I oppose video surveillance of common public areas like streets and parks. I feel recording what happens in the close confines of a bus is different than reco rding what happens on the streets. While I believe while there may not be an expectation of privacy there is some expectation on anonymity on a public street. I do admit this may be a distinction without a difference. If so, I readily admit I my argument may be confused if not contradictory.

Installing these camera's convinces me it's once again safe to ride the buses around town.  I used to ride them to & from the mall to SPSCC 5 years ago and there were some scary people on the bus!

Drew, believe it or not, some of us think this is a great idea!

"A point of view is only a view from a point..." ~ Unknown

 And that includes busses.  I'm not crazy about the camera's and never buy the "it's for your own safety BS" I take responsibility for my safety.  However since there is no privacy expectation in public there isn't much that can be done.  

But I am Just Another Voice

Nice informative report that took some work to compile. All of it was news to me.

But I am Just Another Voice

It is part of the overall increasing creepiness of modern society. On the other hand, LA public buses had cameras when I was in high school, more than 15 years ago. So part of me just shrugs. (Also, I scoff at questions of Olympia bus safety, after spending 4 years riding the bus in late 80s - early 90s So Cal.)

On the third hand (?!), if this (surveillance society) is something you're interested in/concerned about, I highly recommend the works of Bruce Schneier. Probably the smartest thinker about security issues around. Plus a pretty good writer.

And on the fourth hand :) -- the navigation/announcement system is entirely HAWESOME.

I just re-read your original article and the comments and I gotta say I got more pissed off as I read .

You pretend to do some hyperlocal journalistic reportage about the video cameras on IT buses your piece indulges in wild speculations, justification of a paranoid view of power and politics locally and at the national level, and even indulge in erroneous speculations over my knowledge of history and my and other Olyblog posters political motivations for our opinions. In the end you speak more to your beliefs and biases than anything else. 

Relax man. We get it. You are worried about the brave new electronic frontier. I would go one further and say you seem scared shitless of it. The forces of oppression continue to refine their techniques, data mining, Vernit etc... As William Burroughs said a Paranoid is a person in full command of the facts. 

Let’s review shall we?

.

these systems have likely become a prime target for detectives seeking to identify those responsible for the Evergreen Uprising.

Your speculating dude, pure and simple. The word you chose, likely, is the give away. If the TCSD is using the IT system to identify and prosecute people then say so and cite the source for this assertion rather than weasely imply such a thing are happening.  

...this can be head-ends for "total information awareness" style automated facial recognition. Intercity Transit certainly won't use it for that purpose,... Again, you manage to contradict yourself when it comes to local impact. IT is trying to decrease serious anti-social criminal activity, suppress free speech, assault civil rights nor bust members of a riled up hip hop crowd. As to anyone intercepting the signal, big whoop. So your or my face appears on You Tube. I can see an up side to this. A cinema veritie TCTV program on how Olympia rides the bus. 

Fifth, I already use this system to Copwatch,... So you're not against all forms of covertly recorded conversations, just the ones you don't like. i.e. The Man!!! As you go on to point out this technology can and is being used to keep tabs on the forces of oppression. In that light:

The controversies over Rodney King's videotaped beating... What controversy? The tape was incontrovertible proof that the LAPD beat the shit out of another black man. The tape brought down a bunch of storm troopers, sent Mark Furman scuttling off to a gaited community in northern Idaho and started a process identifying and correcting police violence in LA.

So when are you going to contact Verint and have them install one of these so we can see whether and when you are going from point "A" to point "B"? Huh? Now you’re getting personal. Why would I do something that you have so clearly demonstrated (sic) is stupid? Once more Drew, the cameras were installed to address the issue of assault on IT buses. I assure you I've never assaulted a bus driver or transit passenger in my car. 

but then you probably don't know much of the history of political repression in the United States and Europe - or I would guess you would. F.U Drew. You don't know me nor my knowledge of the oppression of the I.W.W., the Pullman strike, the Palmer raids, the Haymarket bombings, the Weather underground, the SLA, the recent BIAW assault on ACORN, FISA... Like I need to trot out my boni fides for someone who makes really erroneous assumptions about my knowledge of history and political economy.

Interesting, and instructively defensive, reactions! Again Drew F.U.

In conclusion Drew you and I are entitled to our opinions no matter how ill reasoned, irreverent, inconsistent or inconsequential it may be. The installation of video cameras on IT buses has little to nothing to do with the New World order. A close reading of your own writing makes this apparent. If you want to write an opinion piece on the NSC, Verinit, Nextiva, data mining and the history of political oppression, do so. Just be sure to call it an opinion piece and leave the pretence of reportage journalism out of it.

As for getting snarky on me (or anyone else for that matter), please don't do it again. It’s rude and makes you look silly.