TAMPER-proof security cameras designed to provide greater protection to passengers are being trialled as part of taxi industry reforms.

Taxi Council SA vice-president Wally Sievers said yesterday that five cameras manufactured by Queensland company VerifEye were being tested.

The cameras, which cost about $2500 each, are the same as those used by the Queensland cab industry, he said.

With about 1000 cars in Adelaide's fleet, their installation would cost more than $2.5 million.

Cameras introduced in 2000 are considered out-of-date following attacks on passengers.

Because each VerifEye unit has two cameras, they cover a much greater area than the model currently used.

"They are ideal from the knowledge we have of all the sorts of things that happen in cabs," Mr Sievers said. The cameras currently used in SA rely on "triggers" such as a door opening or an alarm being activated by the driver.

VerifEye cameras provide continuous recording. Other additional VerifEye features include:

SIGNIFICANTLY clearer images.

GREATER capacity, taking two shots per second.

A FOUR GIGABYTE storage card from which images can be retrieved for 7-10 days.

GPS tracking.

It could be used to complement an already introduced business card system that gives passengers the serial number of their taxi.

Mr Sievers said the VerifEye trial was expected to be completed by October. He said the taxi council was still considering how to pay for a new system across the taxi fleet.

One solution would be to increase costs to passengers as was the case when the current system was introduced and fares went up by one per cent.

Corporate sponsorship or funding from the State Government were also possibilities. 

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,22174282-5006301,00.html