i.vigilante

“What’s The Vulture?” Agent Kells asked.

“It’s a dive bar. A total dive.”

Indicating Padoi’s cell phone screen, agent Kells pressed, “What do the green, yellow and red points represent?”

Glancing sidelong at Agent Kell’s holstered gun, Padoi hesitated before answering. “Those represent probable levels of sobriety of the patrons, sir.

Green represents sober, yellow inebriated, red dead drunk.”

Agent Kells stepped back and assessed the young man. “Based on what information?”

Padoi swallowed. “I use whatever metrics are available.”

“You mean hackable.”

“It’s not hard, sir.”

“Nobody in our office can do this, Mr. Noriege. And we have much more legal access to computer systems and raw data than you do.”

“But maybe not the motivation. I’m trying to prevent needless injury or death. I don’t want any of those yellow or red dots to get in their cars and endanger others.”

“Why?” Agent Kells pressed. “What’s it to you?”

Padoi answered softly, “My brother was killed by a drunk driver. Last year.

A man who drank two times the legal limit at The Vulture.”

Agent Kells digested that. “Okay. I get the why. Now, how are you doing this? Where are you getting the metrics? How does your algorithm work? What’s your end game with this info?”

Pride perked Padoi up. “My system can track time at a bar based on GPS, drink purchases via credit card transactions, social media posts, and video if the establishment has a surveillance system. My algorithm assesses probable levels of inebriation from those metrics and alerts me. I can then take further action depending on the autonomous features of the overdrinker’s car. I can deny entry into their vehicle or prevent the car from starting. I can also alert police to a suspected DUI before their car leaves the establishment. I have a host of methods.”

“Yes, you do, Mr. Noriege,” Agent Kells acknowledged. “Which is why the agency has taken considerable pains to track down an increasing number of reports of citizens being denied their rights to enter and drive their cars after leaving restaurants and bars in this particular section of the city. An area, by the way, that keeps expanding.”

“I believe the law holds that citizens forfeit their right to drive when they are incapacitated in such a way that they may endanger themselves and others,” Padoi respectfully submitted.

“That is not for you to judge.”

“I do not judge, sir. The data does. And it is very effective. Has there not been a dramatic decline in the number of DUI cases in this locale? I track that as well. DUI-related accidents and injuries in this area are down nearly 70%.”

“True. And irate calls to car dealers are up the same amount. People don’t appreciate not being able to drive their cars.”

“Agreed, sir. That’s why I’ve begun to send messages through proxy servers to explain to these people why they were “inconvenienced.” I monitor and learn from their responses and make improvements to my system. I think the good of this far outweighs the inconvenience of people who drink too much and then break the law by driving. My system prevents them from breaking the law. The way it is now, law enforcement has to wait until an inebriated driver breaks the law — and potentially harms himself or others — to arrest him. Which system makes more sense to you, Agent Kells?”

“Yours. Hands down. But what you’re doing isn’t legal. You’re invading the privacy of others. Collecting and using data you have no right to in order to pre-empt a possible violation. That is a crime.”

“Which is a greater crime?”

“This is the slipperiest of slopes, Mr. Noriege. You’re very well intentioned, but your system. This use of data could be used in all sorts of nefarious ways.”

“Not an answer.”

“It is as good an answer as I can give you.”

“Then let me be and continue to save lives, Agent Kells.”

“I wouldn’t be doing my job. Upholding my duty.”

Padoi let those hollow words sink in. “My system is my own, but I have made provisions that it be released to Mothers Against Drunk Driving in the event I’m arrested. Agent Kells, I’m not a bad guy. I’m not a caped crusader or a crank. I believe in justice. Do you?”

Agent Kells suppressed a sigh. “I believe in the law, even if it doesn’t always do justice to justice.”

Padoi held up his arms as if to be cuffed. “So?”

A long count later, Agent Kells waved him off.

“Then we have an agreement?” Padoi asked.

“Not quite. We have a moment. Time for a breath.”

“That is all I could ever want — a breath for my brother.”

“Okay, Mr. Noriege, a breath for your brother while I wrestle with Big Brother.”

“You are a singular man, Agent Kells.”

“If only…” Agent Kells trailed off looking at Padoi’s beaming face.