King County Executive Constantine proposes to put security cameras in all Metro buses



SEATTLE -- One day after a Metro bus driver was assaulted in Auburn, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced he wants to put surveillance cameras on every single Metro transit bus.

Right now, Metro says 44% of their buses have cameras on board.  This new proposal would aim to get 80% of the fleet covered by 2019 and 100% done by 2021.

“If people are being videoed, if they are committing crimes or breaking the rules on the bus and we need to investigate that, they are more liable to get caught. It creates a deterrent effect,” says Kevin Desmond, with King County Metro.

Metro says driver assaults have decreased from 180 in 2008 to 77 in 2015.  The agency believes security cameras will only help those numbers drop.

Metro says it will take up to $7 million to buy, install and retrofit cameras for the rest of its fleet.

The security camera proposal is still subject to approval by the King County Council.