Robin's Ruminations

Rumor has it the City of New York is placing some stringent new requirements on process servers doing business there.  Given recent history I can understand why but the word "overkill" might be appropriate.

NYC is proposing to require all process servers to carry GPS devices that will log their location on a regular basis.  The logs will then be made available, though I haven't heard to whom.  A city department?  Most likely.  The general public?  It wouldn't surprise me.

The truly sad thing is that we've done this to ourselves.  I heard someone describe the situation recently by saying "Service of process has become a commodity" and "The big companies have investors who are expecting a return and demand efficiencies in the systems."

A commodity - Is that all it is we do?  Harvest a commodity?  Have we lost sight of the 5th and 14th amendments?  Have we forgotten how basic our job is to the very bedrock of our society?  

It appears we have.  And the results are beginning to make themselves evident.  As some of us attempt to fill those demands for efficiency corners will be cut.  Some, who can't reach the level of business they want by honest means, will do as was done in New York, they'll commit crimes such as perjury and forgery.  

But beware the backlash.  GPS trackers are only the start.  We're making our own bed - at some point we'll have to sleep in it.