Business camera law needs work

By The Gazette Editorial Board

---

We agree with Chuck Swore, Cedar Rapids City Council member. What's the point of having a city ordinance requiring surveillance cameras in some businesses if there is no enforcement or penalties for non-compliance?

This ordinance has been on the books for two decades. The police department is supposed to check businesses to see if they have working cameras in place. That's not been happening.

The ordinance's definition of which businesses must comply is a bit fuzzy, too. It seems to focus primarily on gas stations/convenience stores and hotels - places that are open late and have only one employee on duty.

Then there's the exception clause: Such a business can apply to the Chief of Police to be exempted from installing video cameras if it provides “alternate security measures” that are at least equal to cameras in protecting employees, preventing criminal activity and assisting in the apprehension of suspects.

The value of surveillance cameras was demonstrated in 2010 when a female clerk at a local Kwik Shop was abducted at knife-point. Images from a surveillance camera in the store helped police find the victim and arrest the suspect, who was convicted of kidnapping and rape.

Many other local businesses, such as banks, opt to install security cameras inside and outside their buildings. Should they and other private businesses be mandated to do so? We don't think so; most businesses aren't open late at night, when the risk of intruders is highest.

You can make a better case for requiring convenience stores and hotels to install cameras. Yet, what about, say, small bars that stay open into the wee hours of morning and have only one or two employees working by then?

Drawing the line isn't easy. And adding a host of extra inspections for police officers may not be the best use of their time and resources.

But the present ordinance on surveillance cameras definitely needs some work if it's going to be an effective public safety tool.

Comments: editorial@thegazette.com or (319) 398-8262