EXHIBIT 99.1
Digital Recorders, Inc. Supports Transit Watch
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 19, 2003--Digital Recorders, Inc.
(Nasdaq:TBUS):
-- Federally Sponsored Public Awareness Program Promotes Transit
Security
-- CEO Urges Americans to Bolster Transit Security by Providing
Critical Intelligence to Transit and Law Enforcement
Officials, Especially During Busy Holiday Travel Season
Digital Recorders, Inc. (DRI) (Nasdaq:TBUS), a market leader in
transit, transportation, and law enforcement digital communications
and audio enhancement systems, announced today its support of "Transit
Watch," a new public awareness and education campaign patterned after
the successful "Neighborhood Watch" program that is being initiated in
communities across the country to promote transit security.
"The Transit Watch program promotes community awareness of transit
security issues and active cooperation with transit and law
enforcement officials as ways of maintaining a safe and secure transit
environment," David L. Turney, the Company's Chairman, Chief Executive
Officer, and President, said. "The Transit Watch program's success
depends upon the collaboration of all Americans to help ensure our
transit system is safe and secure. As the 'eyes and ears' of the
nation's transit system, everyone can play a vital role in bolstering
transit security by providing critical intelligence to transit and law
enforcement officials. And while reporting transit security issues is
important each day of the year, it is especially important during the
busy holiday travel season."
Mr. Turney said the Transit Watch program will help educate the
public about what to look for and how to respond in the event of a
potential or actual emergency, and it will go a long way toward making
people everywhere feel more secure about using public transit. He
encourages DRI shareholders to take a proactive stance on transit
security: "You should always report security issues or concerns to the
proper local transit and law enforcement officials. And if your
community doesn't have a Transit Watch program, write to your local
transit authority and ask them to start one."
Travel Preparedness Tips
-- Create an advanced plan for maintaining contact with family
members in case you are separated as a result of an emergency
or heavy traffic. Select a location as a family meeting point.
-- Create an advanced plan for maintaining contact with close
friends and colleagues during extended travel and emergency
periods.
-- Regularly maintain a record of your emergency contact
information. Make sure your family, friends and colleagues
have access to your emergency contact information. Keep an
emergency contact quick reference card -- including your
complete name, address, phone numbers, critical health
information (such as your current medications and dosages),
and key family contacts -- in your wallet or pocketbook at all
times.
-- Identify alternate routes and means of reaching your meeting
point in the event your main route is impassable. Keep local
maps handy for reference.
-- Be on the alert for suspicious individuals, behavior, and/or
unattended packages, and immediately report what you see and
hear to transit or law enforcement personnel.
About the Transit Watch Program
The Transit Watch program is part of a nationwide initiative
developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit
Administration (FTA). In structuring the program, the FTA worked with
industry partners, including the American Public Transportation
Association, the Community Transportation Association of America, the
Amalgamated Transit Union, and the Transportation Security
Administration.
The Transit Watch program encourages everyone who works for or
uses the transit system to be aware of their surroundings and alert to
activities, packages, or situations that seem suspicious. If something
out of the ordinary and potentially dangerous is observed, it should
be reported immediately to the proper transit or law enforcement
authorities. The public should look for signs promoting safety
awareness on strategic transit vehicles and at transit locations --
buses, benches, stations, ticket kiosks, etc.
For details about the national Transit Watch program, visit the
FTA's website at www.fta.dot.gov.
About the Company
Digital Recorders, Inc. is a market leader in transit,
transportation and law enforcement digital communications and audio
enhancement systems using proprietary software applications. Our
products improve the flow and mobility of people through
transportation infrastructure, as well as enhance law enforcement
agencies' surveillance capabilities. Our transit communications
products -- TwinVision(R) and Mobitec route destination signage
systems, Talking Bus(R) voice announcement systems, and
Internet-based, automatic vehicle monitoring systems -- enhance public
transportation around the globe. Our electronic surveillance tools,
including microphone amplifiers and processors, countermeasures
devices, speech activity detectors, and radio/television noise
cancellers, help law-enforcement agencies worldwide capture, arrest
and prosecute criminals. For more information about DRI and its
operations worldwide, go to www.digrec.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
In particular, any statement, express or implied, concerning future
events or expectations is a forward looking statement. Use of words
such as "expect," "fully expect," "expected," "appears," "believe,"
"plan," "anticipate," "would," "goal," "potential," "potentially,"
"range," "pursuit," "run rate," "stronger," "preliminarily," etc., is
intended to identify forward-looking statements that are subject to
risks and uncertainties, including those described below. There can be
no assurance that any expectation, express or implied, in a
forward-looking statement will prove correct or that the contemplated
event or result will occur as anticipated. The risks associated with
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, product
demand and market acceptance risks, the impact of competitive products
and pricing, the effects of economic conditions and trade, legal,
social and economic risks, such as import, licensing and trade
restrictions, the results of implementing the Company's business plan,
and the impact on the Company of its relationship with its lender.
Refer to the Company's various Securities and Exchange Commission
filings, such as its Forms 10-Q and 10-K, for further information
about forward-looking statements.
CONTACT: Digital Recorders, Inc., Dallas
Veronica B. Marks, 214-378-4776
Fax: 214-378-8437
veronicam@digrec.com