5854646 Victim Services, Office of - Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking - Establishes a rebate program for the installation of security camera systems on a property owned or leased by a resident, business, nonprofit or religious institution
-
OFFICE OF VICTIM SERVICES
NOTICE OF EMERGENCY AND PROPOSED RULEMAKING
The Director of the Office of Victim Services, pursuant to the authority under Section 2(f) of the Private Security Camera Incentive Program Emergency Act of 2016 (“Act”), signed January 15, 2016 (D.C. Act 21-274; 63 DCR 803 (January 22, 2016)) and Mayor’s Order 2016-17, dated February 1, 2016, hereby gives notice of the adoption, on an emergency basis, of a new Chapter 40 (Private Security Camera Incentive Program) of Title 24 (Public Space and Safety) of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR).
This emergency rulemaking establishes a rebate program for the installation of security camera systems on a property owned or leased by a resident, business, nonprofit or religious institution and registration of the security camera systems with the Metropolitan Police Department. There is an immediate need to protect the health, safety, and welfare of District residents by creating an incentive program for the installation of security cameras on private properties and whose footage is available for law enforcement investigations.
This emergency rulemaking was adopted on February 2, 2016, and became effective on that date. The emergency rulemaking will remain in effect for up to one hundred twenty (120) days after the date of adoption, expiring on June 1, 2016, or upon publication of a final rulemaking in the D.C. Register, whichever occurs first.
The Director of the Office of Victim Services also hereby gives notice of the intent to take final rulemaking action to adopt these proposed rules in not less than thirty (30) days after the publication of this notice in the D.C. Register.
A new Chapter 40, PRIVATE SECURITY CAMERA INCENTIVE PROGRAM, is added to Title 24 DCMR, PUBLIC SPACE AND SAFETY, to read as follows:
CHAPTER 40 PRIVATE SECURITY CAMERA INCENTIVE PROGRAM
Sec. Title
4000 General provisions
4001 Application
4002 Prioritization of eligible locations
4003 Security camera specifications
4004 Verification of security camera installation
4005 Security camera registration
4006 Rebate issuance
4000 GENERAL PROVISIONS
4000.1 This chapter implements the private security camera incentive rebate program, which creates an incentive for property owners, business owners, and nonprofit and religious institutions to install security cameras that are intended to help deter crime and assist law enforcement with investigations.
4000.2 An owner or tenant of a property that is used as a residence, business, or nonprofit or religious institution (the Applicant) is eligible for a rebate:
(a) Of up to $200 per camera installed and registered with the Metropolitan Police Department; provided, that the amount of the rebate shall not be more than the cost of the purchase of the camera system; and
(b) With a maximum rebate of up to:
(1) $500 per address of a property used as a residence; or
(2) $750 per address of a property used for anything other than a residence.
(c) The maximum rebates in this section shall be limited to only one (1) security camera system per property address. (For example, in a mixed-use building, if the residential portion has an address of 1234 First Street, and the commercial portion has an address of 1234-A First Street, the maximum rebate of the residential portion shall be $500 and the maximum rebate of the commercial portion shall be $750.)
(d) For any business, commercial, nonprofit, or religious institution that operates within a residence, the Applicant shall be eligible only for the maximum rebate in § 4000.2(b)(1).
4000.3 To be eligible for the rebate in § 4000.2, the Applicant must have purchased and installed the camera system after September 22, 2015 and before all available funds are expended.
4000.4 As part of this program, the Metropolitan Police Department will not have access to live video from the camera.
4000.5 By participating in this program, the Applicant acknowledges that he or she will not use the security camera for any unlawful or harassing purposes and will comply with all applicable building and electrical code requirements.
4001 APPLICATION
4001.1 An Applicant shall submit a security camera rebate application on the form prescribed by the Office of Victim Services (the Office).
4001.2 A completed application shall include:
(a) The completed form prescribed by the Office;
(b) Proof of purchase of an applicable security camera system;
(c) Verification of the installation of the security camera system; and
(d) Registration of the security camera system with the Metropolitan Police Department.
4001.3 Upon the determination that an Applicant has complied with all the requirements of § 4001.2, and subject to the availability of funds, the applicable rebate amount shall be provided to the Applicant pursuant to § 4006.
4002 PRIORITIZATION OF ELIGIBLE LOCATIONS
4002.1 Until July 31, 2016, the Office shall accept applications only from Applicants whose property is located in the following Police Service Areas (PSA):
(a) First District:
(1) PSA 104;
(2) PSA 105;
(3) PSA 107;
(4) PSA 108;
(b) Second District:
(1) PSA 202;
(2) PSA 207;
(3) PSA 208;
(c) Third District:
(1) PSA 302;
(2) PSA 303;
(3) PSA 305;
(d) Fourth District:
(1) PSA 402;
(2) PSA 403;
(3) PSA 405;
(4) PSA 409;
(e) Fifth District: All PSAs;
(f) Sixth District:
(1) PSA 602;
(2) PSA 603;
(3) PSA 604;
(4) PSA 608; and
(g) Seventh District: All PSAs.
4002.2 Beginning August 1, 2016, the Department shall accept applications from Applicants whose property is located in any PSA.
4002.3 PSA borders can be found online at: http://mpdc.dc.gov/page/police-districts-and-police-service-areas.
4003.4 Each Applicant can find relevant property address PSAs online at: http://geospatial.dcgis.dc.gov/PSAFinder/.
4003 SECURITY CAMERA SPECIFICATIONS
4003.1 Security camera systems shall meet minimum technical and video quality specifications published on the Office’s website, and must retain video footage for at least forty-eight (48) hours.
4003.2 Security camera systems shall be installed on the exterior of a building.
4004 VERIFICATION OF SECURITY CAMERA INSTALLATION
4004.1 A security camera system shall be verified as installed before it is eligible for the rebate.
4004.2 An Applicant shall verify installation by the following means:
(a) If the security camera system is installed by a business with a valid Basic Business License that is engaged in the installation of security systems, the business shall certify the installation of the camera system at the property, including photographic evidence; or
(b) If the security camera system is installed by the property owner, business owner, or another person without a valid Basic Business License, the Applicant shall notify the Office for an on-site visit to verify the installation of the security camera system.
4005 SECURITY CAMERA REGISTRATION
4005.1 In order to receive the rebate in § 4006, the Applicant must register the security camera system with the Metropolitan Police Department, which can be done online at http://mpdc.dc.gov/securitycameraregistration.
4005.2 The Applicant will receive an email from the Metropolitan Police Department verifying the security camera system has been registered.
4006 REBATE ISSUANCE
4006.1 Upon the determination that an Applicant has complied with all the requirements of § 4001.2, and subject to the availability of funds, the applicable rebate amount shall be sent by U.S. Mail to the Applicant at the address provided on the application form.
4099 DEFINITIONS
4099.1 The following definitions shall apply to terms used in this chapter:
Applicant – A property owner, business owner, or nonprofit or religious institution that submits an application for a security camera rebate; provided, that a tenant of a property owner may submit an application with the consent of the property owner.
Office – The Office of Victim Services.
PSA – Police Service Area.
All persons interested in commenting on this proposed rulemaking action may submit comments in writing to Christopher Dyer, Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants, 441 4th St. NW, Suite 727N, Washington, DC 20001, or via email at christopher.dyer@dc.gov. Comments must be received no later than thirty (30) days after publication of this notice in the D.C. Register. Copies of the proposed rules can be obtained from the address listed above. Copies of this proposal may be obtained, at cost, by writing to the above address.
