Surveillance systems on NJ Transit light-rail trains raise privacy concerns

TRENTON (WABC) -- You might want to be careful what you say on New Jersey Transit light-rail trains, because more video and audio surveillance systems are being installed. And that's raising concerns about passenger privacy.

NJ Transit officials say the on-board systems are needed to fight crime and maintain security, and the systems are in the process of being upgraded to record not just your every move, but also your every word.

The surveillance equipment cost $750,000 to install on River Line trains, while installation work is ongoing on the Hudson-Bergen and Newark light rail trains. That $1.9 million project is being paid for by a federal grant.

All light rail vehicles with the surveillance systems have signs informing passengers about their presence and that their conversations are being recorded, but that is hardly calming the critics.

But the ACLU says passengers should also know how long the video and audio recordings are kept and who has access to them. They also say people should be able to have private conversations with the passenger next to them.

(Information from the Associated Press was used in this report)