New York City is set to launch a pilot program called “Operation Bright Eyes” aimed at combating the increasingly rampant taxi fraud crimes. The initiative will involve installing in-car surveillance cameras on 500 taxis to crack down on these criminals who have caused up to $1 billion in insurance fraud losses to the taxi industry.
According to Fernando Mateo, spokesperson for the New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers, up to 70% of taxi accidents are fabricated. These criminal activities involve lawyers, doctors, physical therapists, and those who actually stage the accidents. They profit billions of dollars by orchestrating these fake accidents.
The goal of the program is to complete the installation on 500 taxis within 30 days and eventually equip a total of 100,000 taxis with cameras.
The camera system, which typically costs around $250, will be provided free of charge for participating drivers in the pilot program for a year. The installation process is simple, taking just 30 seconds to activate without the need to download any additional applications – simply press the button on the device.
Equipped with dual lenses facing both the road conditions outside and the passengers inside, the cameras can simultaneously record traffic and passenger dynamics, providing crucial evidence for the drivers.
Amid the escalating incidents of fraud, this camera project is a highly anticipated protective measure for taxi drivers.