Baltimore County Chamber opposes shopping mall security camera bill

Daily Record, The (Baltimore), Feb 13, 2006 by James Mosher

Even for popular legislation, the devil is in the details. Baltimore County's largest business association has decided to oppose language offered by a councilman that would cement regulations of what is being called a first-in-the-nation shopping mall security camera law. Joan Hatfield, president and CEO of the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce, said her group's legislative committee voted last week to oppose a bill introduced Feb.

6 by Councilman Kevin Kamenetz, urging it be amended to more closely resemble recommendations put forth by a task force. Hatfield was a member of that group. We agree with the underlying need for security cameras but we oppose the bill as drafted, she said. We urge the entire council to look at pages eight and nine of the task force's report and accept the recommendations there as written. Kamenetz's legislation, Bill No. 23-06, ignores task force ideas for how to calculate human security guards in counting a shopping center's surveillance devices, as well as rules concerning adequate coverage of parking areas, Hatfield said.The task force worked very hard to reach those conclusions, she said. We would like them all to be considered by the council.A provision that calls for security arrangements to be certified by a Maryland-licensed architect, engineer or surveyor would put too great a strain on businesses, Hatfield said.There aren't that many of those people around, she said. Business owners would be forced to scour the state for them.Earlier last week, Kamenetz said he advocates that system in order not to put another burden upon county enforcement officials.The councilman pointed to provisions that allow for businesses to extend deadlines for implementation if financial hardship applies. He said he expects the bill to pass when it comes up for a final vote March 6. The bill, which is supported by County Executive James T. Smith Jr., is due to be discussed at a work session Feb. 28.Kamenetz was lead sponsor of the landmark legislation adopted last year following the February fatal shooting of a respected school teacher and administrator during a botched robbery in the Towson Town Center's parking garage. Following the incident, the mall beefed up patrols and installed an elaborate camera system. The bill passed despite concerns from some government officials, as well as chamber of commerce leaders, that the law would damage business. The law took effect in April. The task force, chaired by Col. James W. Johnson of the county police department, was formed as something of a compromise with the business community, according to Kamenetz. Johnson presented the report to the County Council in September.Kamenetz, a 2nd District Democrat from the county's West Side, supports greater expansion of cameras to municipal areas. The councilman has had preliminary discussions with Police Chief Terrence B. Sheridan about possibly installing cameras at traffic intersections and other public areas.A more involved discussion is likely to take place in May when the police department's budget is discussed by the council, Kamenetz said.The councilman points to the fact that cameras have helped identify criminals both locally and internationally as evidence that usage should be expanded, though he said he shares concerns relating to privacy matters that have been raised by civil libertarians. He detailed a recent call from a USA Today reporter who informed Kamenetz that Chicago's mayor, Richard Daley, is considering a camera program.I was glad to hear it, the councilman said. I told him, 'Just make sure you mention that Baltimore County was the first.'