The city of Chicago is considering an ordinance that would
require security cameras in most businesses that operate
more than 12 hours a day. The only exemptions under the
proposal would be factories and warehouses.

The Chicago Tribune reports Chicago police have
endorsed the proposal, as has Mayor Richard Daley. Among
the businesses that would be required to have CCTV systems
under the plan are shops, convenience stores, restaurants,
bars and gas stations as well as offices and common areas
in apartment buildings and condominiums managed by
companies that have business licenses, according to the
Tribune.

The proposal is being opposed by Chicagoland Chamber of
Commerce, Chicagoland Apartment Association and the
Illinois Restaurant Association based mostly on the cost
burden it would place on small businesses.

Chicago has been at the forefront of the HREF=’t_ci_newsView.cfm?nid=2137′ TARGET=’_blank’>growing
effort of cities nationwide to install public CCTV
systems. Chicago police monitor a system of more than
2,250 cameras throughout the city patched into its 911 call
center.

The Tribune says a new study by Northwestern
University has concluded that the cameras have made a large
dent in Chicago’s crime rate and its deterrence factor has
substantially reduced the number of calls police respond
to.

The council’s License Committee says more study on the
proposal is still to come before it considers sending it to
the full council.

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