City To Monitor Workers With GPS
Workers Have Mixed Reaction To Plan
POSTED: 2:45 p.m. HST May 1, 2002
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HONOLULU -- The city has begun installing global positioning satellite units in some city parks trucks to keep an eye on its parks employees.
The city began putting the satellite locator units in city park trucks a few months ago.
You have to look closely to see the GPS device. It's a white disk on the roof of a city truck. The city has begun installing them on some parks maintenance trucks around the island.
The devices will allow parks managers to monitor the trucks' exact locations. That way, parks officials said managers will know which crews are closest to a location when there's a repair or cleanup that's needed.
Managers will also be able to keep closer track of their crews and some parks goers said they hope that will discourage lazy behavior.
"Sometimes, without anybody to monitor your working habits, then, you know, you kind of slow roll through work and you don't really have to worry about time constraints or anything, but it's taxpayers' money, you know what I mean?" Diamond Head resident Victor Straley said.
"It sounds like a good idea, and also for their safety. If they break down, or there's an accident, it seems like you'd be able to be in touch much quicker," visitor Pat McIntyre said.
Not all park users are sold on the idea.
"But if it's simply the Big Brother element, I think we've got so much of that today, that I'm a little bit leery of it,"
How much is this costing city taxpayers? KITV 4 News city reporter Keoki Kerr called the city for the last two days to try to find the answer, but hasn't received any calls back.
Some city parks workers who refused to be identified or interviewed said the money would be better spent buying badly needed basic equipment, like lawn mowers, leaf blowers and hedge trimmers.
Other parks employees don't mind the high-tech tracking devices, figuring that they won't get in trouble as long as they do their job and they're where they're supposed to be.
KITV 4 News checked with the ACLU, which said unless the program is abused, there's no constitutional problem with it. That's because an ALCU lawyer said he believes the city has a legitimate interest in knowing where its trucks and crews are located.
The city began putting the satellite locator units in city park trucks a few months ago.
You have to look closely to see the GPS device. It's a white disk on the roof of a city truck. The city has begun installing them on some parks maintenance trucks around the island.
The devices will allow parks managers to monitor the trucks' exact locations. That way, parks officials said managers will know which crews are closest to a location when there's a repair or cleanup that's needed.
Managers will also be able to keep closer track of their crews and some parks goers said they hope that will discourage lazy behavior.
"Sometimes, without anybody to monitor your working habits, then, you know, you kind of slow roll through work and you don't really have to worry about time constraints or anything, but it's taxpayers' money, you know what I mean?" Diamond Head resident Victor Straley said.
"It sounds like a good idea, and also for their safety. If they break down, or there's an accident, it seems like you'd be able to be in touch much quicker," visitor Pat McIntyre said.
Not all park users are sold on the idea.
"But if it's simply the Big Brother element, I think we've got so much of that today, that I'm a little bit leery of it,"
How much is this costing city taxpayers? KITV 4 News city reporter Keoki Kerr called the city for the last two days to try to find the answer, but hasn't received any calls back.
Some city parks workers who refused to be identified or interviewed said the money would be better spent buying badly needed basic equipment, like lawn mowers, leaf blowers and hedge trimmers.
Other parks employees don't mind the high-tech tracking devices, figuring that they won't get in trouble as long as they do their job and they're where they're supposed to be.
KITV 4 News checked with the ACLU, which said unless the program is abused, there's no constitutional problem with it. That's because an ALCU lawyer said he believes the city has a legitimate interest in knowing where its trucks and crews are located.Copyright 2002 by TheHawaiiChannel.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
