A United States federal appeals court has ruled New York City can track taxi drivers by using their cabs' GPS systems.
The court ruled on Friday in the case of a driver who filed a 2013 lawsuit charging the tracking system violated his Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure.
Plaintiff Hassan El-Nahal was among the drivers targeted in a 2010 crackdown on those who were overcharging passengers.
City taxi officials used GPS devices installed in cabs to determine some drivers had been cheating passengers by charging a higher suburban fare when they were still in the city.
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the use of the GPS devices was permitted.
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El-Nahal's lawyer told the Daily News the ruling establishes a potentially dangerous precedent.
