The Cincinnati City Council voted Monday to tighten safety rules for public parking garages and surface lots across the city. Starting Jan. 1, every municipal or privately‑operated garage must have either an on‑site attendant or video cameras covering entrances and exits. Surface lots will need similar coverage, with the option of an attendant or cameras that monitor the entire area when no perimeter fence exists.
Key requirements
In addition to surveillance, the ordinance sets higher lighting standards and mandates clear signage indicating payment methods. The new rules affect roughly 200 properties citywide, including city‑owned facilities and privately‑run lots.
Why the changes
City officials say the measures respond to a surge in vehicle‑related crimes. According to Cincinnati police, 324 firearms were stolen from cars last year, and about a third of those thefts occurred in surface parking lots. Vice Mayor Jan‑Michele Kearney noted, “There are too many guns out there. More than 70% of them are stolen from cars, and many of those cars are found on surface parking lots. Cameras are an effective tool for combating these thefts.”
Business concerns
Owners of parking facilities voiced worries about the cost of installing cameras or hiring attendants. Some argued that break‑ins still happen even where cameras are already in place, questioning whether the new mandates will deliver the intended safety improvements.
Implementation timeline
The ordinance requires full compliance by the start of the new year, giving owners several months to upgrade lighting, install surveillance equipment, or staff attendants as needed.
City Council members hope the stricter standards will deter criminal activity, protect residents’ property, and reduce the flow of stolen firearms into the community.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
