Cleveland puts cameras in buses to stem assaults

CLEVELAND (AP) — Cleveland's transit authority will buy cameras and recording equipment for buses and trains to try to stem assaults on bus drivers.

The Plain Dealer (http://bit.ly/ZqWTDi ) reports that the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority voted Tuesday to spend $2.5 million to install cameras on 230 buses and upgrade existing video systems on 96 buses and commuter trains.

The transit authority has been under pressure from the city and its largest union to get a handle on rowdy riders. The agency reported 25 assaults involving bus drivers through mid-November last year. That's the most in five years.

The driver's union applauded the move, but believes more can be done for bus drivers — including installing shields to separate them from passengers. The transit agency plans to test two kinds of such shields.

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Information from: The Plain Dealer, http://www.cleveland.com