Florida city considering video surveillance in restaurants and bars!
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida - August 1, 2011 - In an attempt to crack down on downtown violence, the city commission is considering an ordinance that would require any establishment that serves alcohol after midnight to receive special approval.
Restaurants, bars, and possibly even convenience stores in West Palm Beach that sell alcohol after midnight would have to agree to certain stipulations like added security and video surveillance.
"We want to make bars better partners in downtown," said police Capt. Randy Maale, who made a presentation at Monday's commission workshop. "Historically, enforcement has fallen on the police department - noise issues, fights, etc. We're trying to look at how we can make bars more responsible without being too onerous on them."
An eight-person task force of city business leaders and residents met for months after the city placed a nine-month moratorium on new nightclubs in December.
City officials initially instructed the committee to focus on downtown, but on Monday, Mayor Jeri Muoio and commissioners advised Maale to consider a citywide restriction. Maale agreed.
"This task force was asked to deal with downtown, but I think it would be very advantageous to apply this to the entire city," said Maale.
