By Sierra Hunter
Baltimore Watchdog Staff Writer
After a two-week deferral, the Baltimore County Council unanimously decided Monday to pass a bill that enables law enforcement to use private surveillance cameras to assist in criminal investigations.
The Voluntary Private Security and Surveillance Camera Registration Program (Bill 4-20)
is a voluntary program that encourages commercial and residential private property owners to register security cameras on their property to aid the police in criminal cases.
Second District Councilman Israel “Izzy” Patoka voiced his support for the new bill, saying “this initiative will help bring down crime in Baltimore County and allow our law enforcement partner to be most efficient in their time in driving down crime.”
Officials explained that any information or footage acquired under Bill 4-20 will be considered as if the information was obtained by county-owned cameras. All the information can only be used for law enforcement investigations, they said.
The bill, however, limits the length of time law enforcement can have access to private surveillance footage. Officials explained that there are state and federal privacy protections.
According to the Office of Budget and Finance, the new bill should generate about $400,000 in fiscal impact. The administration has not yet provided the estimated savings related to the reductions of law officers seeking out video footage, officials said.
“When every minute counts and every second counts, it will be very beneficial for police officers pulling up to automatically know what cameras are down the street and around the corner without having to physically go there and knock on their door and see if someone has a camera,” said District Four Councilman Julian E. Jones Jr.
The incentives for participants to volunteer include a waiver of the alarm permit fees, an upgrade to an existing alarm system to include a registered camera and waivers for two false alarms.
“I think if there is any way we can assist our law enforcement with catching criminals committing crime, we’re a better planet for doing so, said Chairwoman Cathy Bevins.
To ensure accuracy of camera location and positioning, the bill requires biennial camera registration renewal, officials said.
“Sometimes crimes occur at night and they have to wait to canvas the area in the day because they can’t see the camera on peoples’ phones,” Jones explained.
The new bill will give the administration up to six months to begin registering cameras before the effective date of March 16, 2021.