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TESTIMONY
OF THE DISTRICT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
HEARING ON VIDEO SURVEILLANCE INFORMATION AND PRIVACY
Testimony of Dan Tangherlini
Acting
Director, District
Department of Transportation
Anthony A. Williams, Mayor
Committee on the Judiciary
Kathy
Patterson, Chairperson
Committee on Transportation and the Environment
Carol
Schwartz, Chairperson
Thursday, June 13, 2002
12:00
noon
Council
Chambers, Washington,
DC
GOOD AFTERNOON CHAIRPERSONS PATTERSON AND SCHWARTZ AND MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY AND TRANSPORTATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT. MY NAME
IS DAN TANGHERLINI, I AM THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF DISTRICT OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION (DDOT). I AM PLEASED TO APPEAR BEFORE THE COMMITTEE TO
DISCUSS THE DEPARTMENT'S POLICY REGARDING VIDEO SURVEILLANCE INFORMATION
AND PRIVACY.
PURPOSE OF TRAFFIC VIDEO SURVEILLANCE
DDOT'S TRAFFIC VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM IS A MAJOR
COMPONENT OF ITS INTEGRATED TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (ITMS). THE VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM PROVIDES
TRANSPORTATION
ENGINEERING AND OPERATIONS PROFESSIONALS WITH INVALUABLE INFORMATION ON TRAFFIC CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT SUCH AS
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, IT IS IMPERATIVE TO MAXIMIZE THE EFFICIENCY OF A SPACE CONSTRAINED TRANSPORTATION
NETWORK. THE VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM SUPPORTS THIS GOAL BY SUPPORTING THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:
- IDENTIFICATION AND RESOLUTION OF NON-RECURRING TRAFFIC INCIDENTS
THE
TRAFFIC VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM ALLOWS TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT CENTER
OPERATIONS (TMC) PERSONNEL TO QUICKLY IDENTIFY NON-RECURRING TRAFFIC
INCIDENTS SUCH AS TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, VEHICLE BREAKDOWNS, TEMPORARY LANE
BLOCKAGES BY DELIVERY VEHICLES, AND OTHER SOURCES OF DISRUPTION CAUSED BY
UNSCHEDULED OR UNPLANNED INCIDENTS. THE TRAFFIC VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM
ALSO ALLOWS TMC PERSONNEL TO MOBILIZE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES TO RESPOND TO
INCIDENTS AND TO RESOLVE THEM QUICKLY. FAST RESPONSE AND RESOLUTION ARE
KEY ELEMENTS TO AVOIDING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE AND LOSS OF LIFE, AS WELL AS
REDUCING THE ADVERSE IMPACT TO THE TRAVELING PUBLIC.
- IDENTIFICATION AND MANAGEMENT OF RECURRING TRAFFIC EVENTS
RECURRING
TRAFFIC EVENTS ARE THOSE THAT APPEAR WITH SOME DEGREE OF REGULARITY AND
PREDICTABILITY. AN EXAMPLE OF A RECURRING TRAFFIC EVENT IS DAILY
CONGESTION THAT OCCURS ON SOME ROUTES THAT RUN NEAR CAPACITY DURING THE
MORNING AND EVENING RUSH HOURS. THE TRAFFIC VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SUBSYSTEM
ALLOWS TRAFFIC ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS TO DETECT AREAS THAT ARE SUBJECT
TO RECURRING TRAFFIC EVENTS, TO ANALYZE THE CAUSES OF THE PROBLEMS, AND TO
MONITOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ANY SHORT TERM OR LONG TERM MEASURES THAT
HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO MITIGATE THE PROBLEMS.
ONCE A PROBLEM IS IDENTIFIED, TRAFFIC ENGINEERING PERSONNEL HAVE A NUMBER
OF TOOLS THAT CAN BE APPLIED. TRAFFIC SIGNAL TIMING ALONG THE AFFECTED
ROUTE CAN BE ADJUSTED TO BETTER ACCOMMODATE UNUSUAL SPIKES IN TRAFFIC
VOLUME. TRAFFIC SIGNAL TIMING ALONG ALTERNATE ROUTES CAN BE ADJUSTED TO
ACCOMMODATE OVERFLOW TRAFFIC. MEDIA SOURCES CAN BE ALERTED TO THE PROBLEM
AND MOTORISTS CAN BE ADVISED TO TAKE ALTERNATE ROUTES. THE VIDEO
SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM PROVIDES THE INFORMATION NEEDED FOR OPERATIONS
PROFESSIONALS TO BECOME AWARE OF RELEVANT TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND TO
DEVELOP EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS.
- DISSEMINATION
OF INFORMATION TO TRAVELING PUBLIC
THE TRAFFIC VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM ALSO SUPPORTS
MORE EFFICIENT USE OF THE
TRANSPORTATION NETWORK BY PROVIDING CURRENT
OPERATIONAL INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC SO THAT USERS OF THE
DISTRICT'S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM CAN MAKE MORE EFFICIENT USE
OF THE FACILITIES. KNOWLEDGE OF RECURRING AND NON-RECURRING
EVENTS MAY PROMPT USERS TO PLAN ALTERNATE ROUTES,
CHANGE TIMES OF DEPARTURE, ETC., TO REDUCE TOTAL TRAVEL TIME.
- COORDINATION
OF DISTRICT TRANSPORTATION OPERATIONS WITH LOCAL
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
THE
DISTRICT'S TRANSPORTATION NETWORK IS INTEGRALLY CONNECTED
WITH THE TRANSPORTATION NETWORKS OF TWO NEIGHBORING
STATES, AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES, CITIES, AND TOWNS.
TRAFFIC VIDEO SURVEILLANCE DATA ALLOWS OUR TRANSPORTATION
PARTNERS TO BE AWARE OF CONDITIONS IN THE DISTRICT, AS
WE ARE AWARE OF RELEVANT CONDITIONS BEYOND THE DISTRICT'S
BORDERS THROUGH THEIR VIDEO PROGRAMS. THE DATA FACILITATES
COORDINATION OF DAILY OPERATIONS AND INCIDENT RESPONSES,
REDUCING DELAYS FOR ALL USERS OF THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM.
TO BE EFFECTIVE, TRAFFIC VIDEO SURVEILLANCE DATA NEEDS TO BE READILY AVAILABLE TO: TRANSPORTATION PROFESSIONALS WHO MANAGE
THE VARIOUS FACILITIES; EMERGENCY RESPONDER AGENCIES SUCH AS POLICE, FIRE,
AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES; MEDIA OUTLETS; AND THE TRAVELING PUBLIC.
AT THE SAME TIME, PROPER RESPECT MUST BE GIVEN TO THE PRIVACY OF
INDIVIDUALS. DDOT'S TRAFFIC VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM WILL BE
DESIGNED AND OPERATED IN A MANNER THAT CONCENTRATES ON COLLECTION OF
NEEDED TRAFFIC OPERATIONAL INFORMATION WHILE MINIMIZING THE SYSTEM'S
ABILITY TO COLLECT PERSONAL INFORMATION AND INTRUDE ON THE PRIVACY OF
INDIVIDUALS. THE FOLLOWING ARE DDOT'S PROPOSED POLICIES WITH RESPECT TO
PROTECTION OF PERSONAL PRIVACY.
ADHERENCE WITH NATIONALLY ACCEPTED PRIVACY PRINCIPLES
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE, CONSISTENT WITH TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES, DDOT WILL DESIGN AND OPERATE THE TRAFFIC
VIDEO !SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM IN A MANNER THAT WILL MINIMIZE THE POTENTIAL FOR INVASION OF PRIVACY. THE INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION
SOCIETY OF AMERICA (ITSA) IS AN ORGANIZATION OF PROFESSIONALS DEDICATED TO THE SAFE AND EFFICIENT MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE, GOODS, AND
SERVICES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS. RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF PROTECTING
INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY, ITSA HAS DEVELOPED A SET OF PRINCIPLES DESIGNED TO PROTECT PRIVACY IN ALL INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS,
INCLUDING
TRAFFIC VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS. IN BRIEF, THE PRINCIPLES REQUIRE:
- INDIVIDUAL CENTERED - ITS PROGRAMS MUST RECOGNIZE AND RESPECT INDIVIDUAL INTERESTS IN PRIVACY AND INFORMATION
USE.
- VISIBLE - ITS PROGRAMS MUST BE VISIBLE; I.E. INDIVIDUALS MUST HAVE
A WAY OF OBSERVING HOW SYSTEMS WORK.
- COMPLY - ITS PROGRAMS MUST COMPLY WITH ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL,
STATE, AND LOCAL STATUTES WITH RESPECT TO PRIVACY RIGHTS.
- SECURE - ITS PROGRAMS MUST BE SECURE FROM UNAUTHORIZED DISTRIBUTION
OF PERSONAL INFORMATION.
- LAW
ENFORCEMENT - INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS HAVE AN
APPROPRIATE ROLE IN ENHANCING TRAVELERS' SAFETY AND SECURITY
INTERESTS, THEREFORE DDOT'S TRAFFIC VIDEO DATA WOULD
BE AVAILABLE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES CONSISTENT
WITH THE POLICIES, PRACTICES, LAWS AND REGULATIONS
DICTATING LAW ENFORCEMENT USE IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA.
- RELEVANT - INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS WILL ONLY COLLECT
PERSONAL INFORMATION THAT IS RELEVANT FOR ITS PURPOSES.
- ANONYMITY - WHERE PRACTICABLE, INDIVIDUALS SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY
TO UTILIZE INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS ON AN ANONYMOUS
BASIS.
- COMMERCIAL
OR OTHER SECONDARY USE - INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS INFORMATION
STRIPPED OF PERSONAL IDENTIFIERS MAY BE USED FOR NON-ITS APPLICATIONS.
TO THE EXTENT PERMISSIBLE BY DISTRICT LAW OR REGULATION.
- FOIA - FEDERAL AND STATE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)
OBLIGATIONS REQUIRE DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION FROM GOVERNMENT MAINTAINED
DATABASES. DATABASE ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BALANCE THE INDIVIDUAL'S
INTEREST IN PRIVACY AND THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW.
IT IS DDOT' S POLICY TO COMPLY FULLY WITH THE SPIRIT AND SPECIFIC RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF THE ITSA PRIVACY PRINCIPLES.
SPECIFIC POLICIES TO SUPPORT ITSA PRINCIPLES
DDOT IS PARTICULARLY MINDFUL OF INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR INTRUSION WHEN A TRAFFIC VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM IS OPERATED IN AN URBAN
ENVIRONMENT. THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC POLICIES PROVIDE FOR PROTECTION OF PRIVACY AND WILL BE VIGOROUSLY ENFORCED:
- ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF DDOT PRIVACY PRINCIPLES
ALL DDOT STAFF OPERATING VIDEO TRAFFIC SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS AND ALL PARTIES RECEIVING DDOT GENERATED VIDEO INFORMATION WILL
RECEIVE A COPY
OF THIS POLICY. EACH PARTY WILL ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF THE PRINCIPLES
AND HIS OR HER ACCEPTANCE OF THEM. FOR PARTY GRANTED ACCESS TO OR
CONTROL OF THE TRAFFIC VIDEO SYSTEM, A SIGNED COPY OF THE POLICY WILL BE
MAINTAINED IN THE OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, OR HIS
DESIGNEE - TRAFFIC SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.
- SYSTEM CONTROL
NORMAL CONTROL AND OPERATION OF TRAFFIC VIDEO CAMERAS WILL BE ACHIEVED EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH DDOT'S TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
SOFTWARE. THIS SOFTWARE RESTRICTS OPERATION OF CAMERAS TO AUTHORIZED USERS WHO ENTER THE APPROPRIATE PASSWORD. ACCESS TO
CONTROL FUNCTIONS WILL BE RESTRICTED TO THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE A NEED TO CONTROL THE CAMERAS IN RELATION TO SOME
TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT OR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT FUNCTION.
- USE OF CAMERA PRESET OPERATIONS
IN GENERAL, OPERATION OF THE TRAFFIC VIDEO CAMERAS WILL BE RESTRICTED TO USE OF PRESET CAMERA SHOTS, KNOWN AS `PRE-SHOTS'.
TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT ENGINEERING STAFF WILL DESIGN SEVERAL PRE-SHOTS FOR EACH CAMERA.
PRE-SHOTS WILL BE DESIGNED TO FOCUS ON THE VARIOUS ROADWAY APPROACHES THAT ARE TO BE
MANAGED. THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PRE-SHOTS WILL EMPHASIZE
AVOIDANCE OF `TIGHT' ZOOM SETTINGS THAT WOULD PERMIT IDENTIFICATION OF
INDIVIDUAL PERSONS OR VEHICLES.
- RESTRICTION OF PAN, TILT AND ZOOM OPERATIONS
PAN, TILT, AND ZOOM REFER TO TRAFFIC VIDEO CAMERA FEATURES THAT ALLOW OPERATORS OF THE TRAFFIC VIDEO CAMERAS TO
AIM CAMERAS HORIZONTALLY (PAN), AND VERTICALLY (TILT) AND TO CHANGE THE
APPARENT DISTANCE TO AN OBJECT (ZOOM). THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SHALL BE CONFIGURED TO RESTRICT UNLIMITED USE OF PAN, TILT,
AND ZOOM FEATURES OF TRAFFIC VIDEO CAMERAS. IN GENERAL, TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT OPERATORS WILL NOT HAVE FULL USE OF
THE PAN, TILT, AND ZOOM FUNCTIONS. RATHER, TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT OPERATORS WILL BE REQUIRED TO USE THE PRE-SHOT
FUNCTIONS IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF THEIR DUTIES.
FULL ACCESS TO PAN, TILT, AND ZOOM FUNCTIONS WILL BE ALLOWED UNDER THE
FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
- BY
SUPERVISORS - FULL PAN, TILT, AND ZOOM CONTROL WILL BE PERMITTED BY
SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL, WHEN IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE
SUPERVISOR, THE EXISTING PRE-DEFINED PRE-SHOTS DO NOT ALLOW FOR THE
MOST EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF A PARTICULAR SITUATION, AND
FULL ACCESS TO PAN, TILT AND ZOOM FUNCTIONS IS NECESSARY TO AN
EFFECTIVE RESOLUTION OF A GIVEN SITUATION IN SUCH
SITUATIONS, SUPERVISORY PERSONNEL SHALL USE PAN, TILT, ZOOM
FUNCTIONS IN SUCH A WAY TO AVOID GENERATION OF PERSONAL
IDENTITY INFORMATION.
- BY
ENGINEERING PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC ENGINEERING PERSONNEL CHARGED
WITH RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEVELOPING CAMERA PRE-SHOTS SHALL
BE ABLE TO USE PAN, TILT, AND ZOOM FEATURES TO DEVELOP THE
PRE-SHOT LIBRARY FOR EACH CAMERA. ENGINEERING PERSONNEL
SHALL USE THE PAN, TILT AND ZOOM FEATURES ONLY TO THE EXTENT
NECESSARY TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF CAMERA PRE-SHOT
SETTINGS.
- BY
MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL - FULL ACCESS TO PAN, TILT, AND ZOOM
OPERATIONS SHALL BE PERMITTED BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL
AS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT INSTALLATION, CALIBRATION,
OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES.
- TRAINING -
FULL ACCESS TO PAN, TILT, AND ZOOM FUNCTIONS WILL BE GRANTED
TO INSTRUCTORS AND STUDENTS IN CONNECTION WITH TRAINING ON
TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OPERATIONS AND
MAINTENANCE.
- RESTRICTION OF VIDEO RECORDING
RECORDING OF VIDEO IMAGES PRODUCED BY THE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM SHALL BE RESTRICTED. IMAGES MAY BE RECORDED
ONLY TO SUPPORT TRAINING OR MANAGEMENT REVIEW OF OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS. RECORDING MAY BE MADE IN
EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES AS AUTHORIZED IN WRITING BY THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, OR HIS DESIGNEE.
- DISTRIBUTION OF VIDEO IMAGES TO OTHER AGENCIES OR COMMERCIAL ENTITIES.
DDOT MAY ARRANGE TO DISTRIBUTE VIDEO IMAGES TO OTHER AGENCIES OR COMMERCIAL ENTITIES TO SUPPORT THE MANAGEMENT OF TRAFFIC
OPERATIONS AND TO FACILITATE THE DISTRIBUTION OF TRAFFIC INFORMATION TO THE TRAVELING PUBLIC. THIS MAY OCCUR ONLY AFTER
THE PARTY INVOLVED HAS EXECUTED A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE INFORMATION IS TO BE
USED SOLELY FOR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS. DDOT WILL RETAIN FULL CONTROL OF CONTENT DELIVERED TO OUTSIDE PARTIES.
- OVERSIGHT
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ITSA PRIVACY PRINCIPLES, THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, OR HIS DESIGNEE, SHALL CONDUCT AN ANNUAL REVIEW
OF THE DDOT CCTV PRIVACY POLICY. THE DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION, OR HIS DESIGNEE, SHALL MEET WITH THE CHIEF OF THE TRANSPORTATION
MANAGEMENT CENTER. AT THE MEETING, THE DIRECTOR, OR HIS DESIGNEE, WILL REVIEW THE PRIVACY POLICY WITH THE CHIEF OF THE TMC. THE
DIRECTOR, OR HIS DESIGNEE, WILL EVALUATE THE CENTER'S COMPLIANCE WITH DDOT'S CCTV PRIVACY POLICY, AND WILL WORK TO IDENTIFY
PROBLEM AREAS AND SOLUTIONS WITH RESPECT TO EXECUTION OF THE PRIVACY POLICY.
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