City of Madison mandates business owners install surveillance cameras by week's end

MADISON, MS (Mississippi News Now) - A new mandate says certain businesses in the city of Madison have to install surveillance cameras by the end of the week.

The ordinance applies to any parking lot with 25 spaces or more and any building 2,000 square feet or larger.

Those numbers have business managers like Mark Beyea measuring.

"We will have to install video cameras," said Beyea after measuring around his building to find he was about 400 square feet over the cap.

The City and police department reference studies that show camera systems may drive away possible offenders.

"It allows us to help the businesses in deterring crime, but also the solvability of crime," said Madison Police Chief Gene Waldrop.

The ordinance mandates the entrance to a parking lot and each door be under surveillance. It explains, vehicles going into the parking lot have to be properly identifiable.

For Beyea, that's a lot of cameras.

"This sliding door here, and then there are two more doors on the back side of the building, and then the front door that you came through," he said, gesturing around his office building. "I'm hoping that we can cover more than one door with one camera."

The ordinance defines the security systems as being able to retain data for thirty days or more, with a resolution minimum of 480 Total Vertical Lense, and infra-red capability for nighttime use.

The Board of Alderman wrote, "Certain minimum-security requirement are beneficial to better protect the health, welfare, and safety of residents and visitors to the city."

Overall, people don't seem to mind the ordinance.

"I feel positive about it," said Wanda Marshall, the Office Manager for Parkway Church. "I think it'll be a great thing for the community."

Brad Varner, who works with Panasonic Video Insight was standing next to her.

"It's a really small investment for the safety of the community," added Varner. "It'll be a great asset for the city, especially from an investigative side."

"I support the ordinance," said Beyea. "I'm gonna I guess be interested to see how much it's gonna cost to get a camera system in here."

New businesses have to have surveillance by March 4, but existing businesses get a year to install the system (March 4th, 2018).

Each day after that date, the building owner can be fined up to $500 for not installing the cameras.

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