Michel on approaching enforcement of new camera ordinance: 'If someone is defying it, we will pursue it'

The City of Houston is urging businesses that haven’t installed outward-facing, high-resolution camera surveillance systems to do so before a new ordinance requiring them goes into effect in two weeks, per a report from Houston ABC affiliate KTRK.

Last April, Houston City Council approved the measure that calls for bars, nightclubs, sexually-oriented businesses, convenience stores and game rooms to set up cameras with a view of their parking lots. 

Houston Daily previously reported that the 16-member city council passed the ordinance 15-1, with Councilman Mike Knox, an ex-police officer, as the lone dissenter. City leaders asserted the additional safety measures are intended to aid in the fight against crime.

KTRK reported that the city will enforce the ordinance beginning on Tuesday, July 19.

Businesses are required for their cameras to capture the overall view of the exterior of their premises, operate 24 hours a day and keep footage for a minimum of 30 days, according to the station.

Establishments additionally must submit any video upon the request of the Houston Police Department (HPD) within a three-day window, per KTRK.

The city classifies a violation of the ordinance as a misdemeanor, the station reported.

The type of action in response to the offense depends on the nature of it, City Attorney Arturo Michel told KTRK.

"A lot of it, particularly at the beginning, will depend on the reasons given for non-compliance," Michel said, per the station. "If someone is defying it, we will pursue it. If someone has tried and there is an error or mistake, then HPD will work with them."

According to KTRK, police last year responded to approximately 10,000 criminal incidents at the businesses listed under the ordinance.

HPD is providing assistance and information to businesses that haven’t installed cameras, the station reported.