PRESS RELEASE - VERIFEYE ANNOUNCES MAJOR SUPPLY AGREEMENT
Toronto November 6, 2008
On 4 November 2008, the Vancouver Taxi Association (comprising the 4 cab companies that serve Vancouver) indicated to the BC Passenger Transportation Board that they had selected the VerifEye "G5" TaxiCam for their combined fleet of over 500 vehicles.
The price for the cameras will be the same as the price previously negotiated by the British Columbia Taxi Association for its members in Victoria (Capital Regional District) and the Lower Mainland (Greater Vancouver). The total number of BCTA vehicles is approximately 1000.
There are approximately 300 vehicles already operating in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland with the "G4" TaxiCam, all of which are less than 18 months old. The "G4" TaxiCams in these 300 vehicles will be "grandfathered" and will not need to be replaced.
Thus, the number of cameras included in the supply agreement will be approximately 1200. It is anticipated that all the new cameras will be installed by March 2009.
The camera selection was made following a series of evaluations of various camera systems that took place from April – July 2008. Cameras were installed in BCTA and VTA vehicles and the evaluations were carried out by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Forensic Video Analysis Unit and by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) Forensic Video Unit. The results of the evaluations were provided to the BC PTB.
While some of the cameras evaluated touted "new technologies", VerifEye was the only company that offered a product that had been purpose built for the taxi industry. John Ballantyne, Vice-President of Engineering, praised the thoroughness of the evaluations and the comprehensiveness of the report. “BC sets very demanding standards, particularly for image quality and image security (protecting the chain-of-evidence and the privacy of drivers and passengers); it is always gratifying when your products are thoroughly evaluated and found to meet or exceed all the requirements”.
Terry Walker, Vice-President of Marketing and Sales, complimented the BCTA for their role in the evaluations. “The BCTA has been a valued VerifEye customer since 2004. The BC taxi camera safety program has been one of the most effective mandated programs that VerifEye has participated in. The large number, and relatively small average size, of individual BCTA members has presented some challenges in communications and support over the years, however, there is no doubt that each and every member is 100% committed to the success of the camera program and to driver safety. Despite the somewhat higher costs to support the BCTA, VerifEye is happy to incur these costs. Rather than worrying about the cost, we see participation in a successful program as representing an excellent return on our investment.”
