DeKalb County’s video surveillance ordinance now effective at gas stations, convenience stores, high risk businesses

DEKALB COUNTY, GA—DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson on Thursday, July 13, began ride-a-longs with Code Enforcement County to ensure compliance with the county’s new Video Surveillance Ordinance, requiring gas and convenience stores and high-risk businesses to own and operate a video surveillance system. Code Enforcement is checking 248 gas and service stations in unincorporated DeKalb County to make sure the businesses have installed the mandated cameras.

The ordinance went into effect on June 30, 2023, and all gas and service stations must comply prior to the renewal of their business license.

“With the ongoing violence and crime DeKalb County is experiencing, particularly at gas and service stations, the approval of this ordinance couldn’t be more dire,” said DeKalb County Commissioner Lorraine Cochran-Johnson. “Our gas and service stations are our #1 location for violent crimes and the Ordinance will be a valuable tool in deterring crime and serving justice to anyone who engages in criminal activity at a DeKalb gas or service station.”

Initially introduced on Feb. 22, 2021 by Commissioner Cochran-Johnson, the legislation was approved Dec.r 14, 2022 and establishes minimum video surveillance standards for high-risk businesses for legal purposes and allows DeKalb County to extend those requirements to any business deemed high-risk to ensure public safety.

Key components of the legislation require convenience stores and high-risk businesses must:

· Keep a VSS in continuous operation twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, including outside business hours.

· Meet the minimum standard of 4MP Wi-Fi network cameras that includes digital video recording with 24 frames per second and infrared night vision to ensure clarity.

· Mandatory placement of cameras at registers, points of entry and exit, gas pumps, loading docks, and parking areas.

· Mandatory inspection of new construction plans or a one-time initial inspection of VSS to ensure compliance.

· After the initial inspection, the applicant must submit an annual affidavit with each application for the renewal of a business license that the VSS is operational and in full compliance with the applicable requirements and standards within Ordinance.

· Place notice of presence of VSS at the register and on premise to inform the public that the premises are actively monitored.

· A digital video recording must be made available to any peace officer for viewing no later than seventy-two (72) hours after being requested.

· Mandatory storage of footage for sixty (60) days.

· Footage must display proper date and time.

· VSS capture and lighting must extend no less than seventy-five (75) feet of the building periphery.

All convenience stores that have video surveillance systems installed must obtain assessment approval from Code Enforcement. All convenience stores must be compliant with the provisions upon opening their doors or before the renewal of their business license. To implement the program throughout unincorporated DeKalb six (6) dedicated Code Enforcement Officers were hired.

Failure to adhere to the requirements of the Ordinance, upon citation by Code Enforcement and conviction of the violation in a court of competent jurisdiction, may result in a fine and/or imprisonment.

To read the approved video surveillance system legislation in its entirety, click here.

“I am grateful to the administration and my fellow Board of Commissioners for their support of this legislation,” said Cochran-Johnson. “The future of public safety will rely heavily on technology. This Ordinance moves us progressively towards creating minimum standards for best practices that protect the community and put criminals on notice their behavior is monitored.” The Ordinance is being used across the country as model legislation and was moved forward yesterday by the Atlanta City Council’s Public Safety Panel for a formal vote before the full council.