On June 1, 2009 Governor Crist approved SB 360, which included language to preempt Local Governments from adopting security camera ordinances that require retail establishments to provide 24 hour surveillance of their parking lots and make the footage available to law enforcement officers in an attempt to expedite capturing perpetrators. Retailers were glad to hear the final bill was signed because it relieved them of this expensive unfunded mandate. In light of these developments, the conversation now turns to how local governments and businesses work together to achieve the mutually desired end, to ensure that people are adequately protected against crime in retail parking lots.
Local Governments Preempted from Adopting Parking Security Camera Ordinances in Florida
The County Commission of Broward County, FL first proposed an ordinance in August 2008. At that time, the County had approximately 10,000 retailers that did not meet those standards.1 A Task Force was formed and many public hearings were held over the next year, and other cities and counties began to initiate the same measures. The Town Council of Cutler Bay in Miami-Dade, FL adopted an ordinance in January 2009 to regulate malls and businesses with parking lots containing 25 or more spaces.2 However, the ordinance was made null and void by SB 360.3
So how can Local Governments protect their citizens that support local retailers? Samantha Hunter Padgett, Deputy General Counsel of Governmental Affairs with the Florida Retail Federation, says Local Governments can “adopt model standards and recognize good examples” of retailers with high safety standards in their parking lots. “Partnering with successful businesses and creating best practices” can be beneficial to the retailers and to the general public. She says a good solution for Local Governments is to have a “comprehensive approach, to increase prosecution and punishment and to educate citizens on safety solutions in their community”.
To view the Broward County and Cutler Bay activity tracked by OrdinancWatch™ see the following links:
1. Www.broward.org/commission. June 2008. Broward County Commission. 10 June 2009 <1. http://www.broward.org/commission/welcome.htm>.
2. Www.cutlerbay-fl.gov. January 2009. Cutler Bay Town Council. 10 June 2009 <http://www.cutlerbay-fl.gov/agenda.php>.
3. Www.flsenate.gov. 10 June 2009 <http://www.flsenate.gov/session/index.cfm?BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Mode=Bills&ElementID=JumpToBox&SubMenu=1&Year=2009&billnum=360>.
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