Judge Says Okay to Tracking Cabbies with GPS

District court judge, Katherine Forrest, ruled it does not violate fourth amendment rights to use GPS tracking on cabs to ensure customers aren’t overcharged.

The same technology that lets riders pay with credit cards also tracks the beginning and end of every trip, location, and number of passengers.

Last year, a taxi driver sued the Taxi and Limousine Commission claiming his constitutional rights were violated by GPS tracking without probable cause or a warrant.

“In an administrative proceeding, [the use of GPS data] does not constitute a search within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment,” wrote Forrest.

The GPS technology helps reduce overcharging. In 2010 alone, more than 20,000 cab drivers overcharged customers.