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February 13, 2006

Mandating Cameras for Bars in Chicago

From the Sun-Times :
A proposal that every licensed Chicago business open more than 12 hours a day install indoor and outdoor cameras has been scaled back to late-night bars. Cameras are actually just one part of the proposal, which is aimed at preventing crime and providing better response to late night criminal activities. From a smart camera perspective, the big deal is that the government is mandating cameras for a set of businesses. Naturally, the bars aren't too keen on being forced to buy these systems. Here is more background:

Daley's ordinance, introduced at Wednesday's City Council meeting, would give all of them 60 days to submit an "exterior safety plan" that would require installation of exterior lighting and surveillance cameras at each building exit and the hiring of "adequately trained" security personnel.

The cameras and lighting would have to be good enough to identify people entering and leaving the bar. Videotape would have to maintained for at least 72 hours and be available to police.

Failure to submit the plan to the city's Department of Business Affairs and Licensing would be grounds to deny a late-hour license. Failure to implement the plan to address chronic complaints ranging from excessive noise, fighting and loitering to drug dealing would be grounds to suspend or revoke the late-hour license and all other business licenses issued to that establishment.

A few months ago, Baltimore mandated cameras in its shopping malls, see the previous stories here and here.

Update: USA Today has a story on this (it also quotes me).

Posted by rshah at February 13, 2006 02:33 PM

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