CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Clinton Township is setting a new standard in public safety and crime-fighting, as business owners are being required to pay for security cameras and surveillance systems.
Clinton Township is Michigan's most-populated township, with more than 100,000 residents. The new requirement is drawing a mixed reaction.
"If the retailer cannot afford it, he cannot afford it," party store owner Norman Manjo said. "To make it mandatory, that's going to be a problem, because that would be a lot of money that they have to dish out."
Surveillance cameras will soon be mandatory at party stores that sell liquor, hotels, banks, pharmacies, gas stations and other businesses with frequent calls to police.
Owners are being told to foot the bill.
The ordinance was spearheaded by Clinton Township police Capt. Richard Maierle.
"I talked to a lot of businesses," Maierle said. "They want to protect their property."
Maierle said around 75 percent of businesses impacted by the requirements are already in compliance. But not every shop in Clinton Township will have to get cameras.
"We didn't make this ordinance (to include) the florist, or the breakfast shop, or some little mom and pop business," Maierle said.
One gas station owner who installed security cameras two decades ago said surveillance does deter crime.
"It prevents accidents," Danny Zindani said. "It prevents someone from robbing you. Everybody should have it. That should be mandatory."
It appears Clinton Township will be the first in the state to make cameras mandatory.
"It would be nice if they had some kind of program for the small retail that can't afford it, because you're kind of (saying), 'Either you have it, or don't do business in our city,'" Manjo said.
Maierle said he started to explore the idea after the murders of two party store owners were solved with the help of surveillance video.
The ordinance goes into effect April 1. Business owners will have six months to comply.