Yellow Cab to install 200 in-cab cameras in Halifax

If youre taking a cab in Halifax, smile, because you may be on camera.

Halifax company, Yellow Cabis planning to have cameras installed in up to 200 of its vehicles to protect cab drivers as well as passengers.

You don't know the cab driver and the cab driver doesnt know you and there's always an opportunity for danger, said cab-user Laura Mackenzie.

Yellow Cabs general manager Majid Latif says he's in favour of the cameras but precautions need to be taken.

What if the video is put on social media, from the camera? What if it's used for personal use? he said. So we have to keep every aspect in mind to come up with a clear policy.

Yellow Cab says that once a policy is approved, they will pay for the installation of the cameras. But the drivers will have to pay for the cameras themselves ata subsidized rate. A camera can cost up to $5,000.

Latifsaid most cabs are privately owned.

John Szczepanowski, a cab driver with Yellow Cab, says he too has concerns.

I dont want to be monitored 24-7 with a camera stuck at me, he said. But he added, Anything that would deter anybody from harming a cab driver is a good idea.

Yellow Cab hopes to install surveillance cameras in some of their cabs by Christmas.