By Kim Kalunian, WPRO News
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) said they have taken “appropriate action” after a driver was caught looking at X-rated material on his cellphone while picking up passengers at Kennedy Plaza.
Barbara Polichetti, spokeswoman for RIPTA, said the transit authority conducted an internal review after a passenger complained that a driver was watching porn while behind the wheel on August 19.
Brian Hall, the passenger who filed the complaint, told WPRO News the driver was early to Kennedy Plaza and was waiting for passengers to board with the bus turned off; that’s when he pulled out his phone to pass the time.
“His phone’s sound came on and it was a women’s voice, quite loud, and in a very seductive voice said ‘I want you to [explicit] me so bad,’” said Hall in an email.
Hall described how the driver appeared to turn the volume down and then continued to watch his phone “for a length of time.” Hall said the few other passengers on the bus also seemed to notice something unusual had happened.
“We all sort of looked at each other, I guess to confirm that we had all just heard what we thought we heard,” Hall said. He said the bus, the 32 bound for East Providence and the Wampanoag Trail, began rolling several minutes later. Hall said he filed a complaint with RIPTA immediately.
Polichetti said supervisory staff reviewed the matter after talking with Hall and the driver, and they determined that the driver used his personal cell phone to open a message that contained adult content.
“This is not acceptable and we take this seriously,” said Polichetti.
She said the incident has been “handled in accordance with [RIPTA’s] internal discipline policies and appropriate action has been taken.” She did not provide further details about what action was taken against the driver, nor did she provide his name.
Polichetti said RIPTA appreciates that Hall provided them with information about the incident.
