RENO — A federal judge has given northern Nevada's largest public transit system the green light to begin recording audio along with the video surveillance on city buses in Reno despite objections from the bus drivers' union that says it's an illegal invasion of privacy.
A lawyer for the Teamsters tells The Associated Press they intend to appeal.
Judge Miranda Du said in a ruling this week neither the Washoe County bus drivers nor their passengers have a right to privacy because conversations on public buses are not private.
The union has been fighting the move for three years. Its lawyer, Michael Langton, says the recordings amount to surreptitious eavesdropping. He says it also violates collective bargaining laws.
Judge Du said there's nothing clandestine about it because posted signs warn riders buses may be equipped with audio and video surveillance.