Houston bars and nightclubs soon could be required to install outdoor security cameras as part of Mayor Sylvester Turner’s citywide plan to combat a rise in violent crime.
A proposal before Houston city council would require bars, convenience stores, game rooms, sexually oriented businesses and nightclubs to install exterior security cameras. The owners would be required to store video from the cameras for at least 30 days and turn footage over to Houston Police within 72 hours if requested.
Under the proposed ordinance, the businesses must save surveillance footage for at least 30 days. Owners would have to turn footage over to the Houston Police Department upon request within 72 hours.aimed at reducing violent crime through expanded mental health and crisis intervention programs, additional police overtime and gun buybacks.
“It is not government’s place to tell bars what equipment they need,” Knox said. “If we do that, then every business should be required to have surveillance as part of the permitting process. And then we get into questions of invasion of privacy.”