District Of Columbia 2023-2024 Regular Session

District Of Columbia Council Bill B25-0478 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
6	6	OFFICE OF COUNCILMEMBER BROOKE PINTO
7	7	THE JOHN A. WILSON BUILDING
8	8	1350 PENNSLYVANIA AVENUE, N.W., SUITE 106
9	9	WASHINGTON, D.C. 20004
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11	11
12	12
13	13	September 18, 2023
14	14
15	15	Nyasha Smith, Secretary
16	16	Council of the District of Columbia
17	17	1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
18	18	Washington, DC 20004
19	19
20	20	Dear Secretary Smith,
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22	22	Today, I, along with Councilmembers Matthew Frumin and Anita Bonds, am introducing the
23	23	“Improving Safety and Emergency Response on Transit Corridors Act of 2023.” This bill would establish
24	24	a demonstration project focused on improving the safety of transit corridors and public spaces using
25	25	emergency communication stations and video surveillance technology to improve access to emergency
26	26	response and identify violators of District law. It would also require the Deputy Mayor for Public Safety
27	27	and Justice (DMPSJ) to collect data and report on the demonstration project to the Council. Please find
28	28	attached a signed copy of the legislation.
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30	30	The Improving Safety and Emergency Response on Transit Corridors Act of 2023 would help
31	31	increase safety for District residents and those we see are disproportionately impacted by safety issues along
32	32	public transit corridors in the District––women, seniors, and members of the LGBTQQIA+ community. In
33	33	2022 alone, Metro Transit Police Department (MTPD) reported that 960 thefts and violent offenses
34	34	occurred on or near transit corridors — including 4 incidents of rape, 195 incidents of aggravated assault,
35	35	227 robberies, and 442 incidents of larceny.
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37	37	The potential for experiencing crime and violence on public transit prevents some residents and
38	38	visitors from using public transit, while others continue to use public transit but do so feeling unsafe at
39	39	times. The threat of violence is particularly tangible for women who report feeling more unsafe than their
40	40	male counterparts while riding on or waiting for trains and buses. Out of that subset, transgender women in
41	41	particular worry about facing harassment or violence in those public spaces. For persons who feel unsafe
42	42	riding public transportation, especially late at night, alternative modes of transportation may create added
43	43	expenses, while those who cannot afford an alternative may feel they have no choice but to take on
44	44	additional risk.
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46	46	In February 2023, in response to a shooting and the death of a Metro employee at the Potomac
47	47	Avenue Metro station, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced that it would provide
48	48	additional support to the transit police by stationing MPD officers at select Metro stations. MPD and MTPD
49	49	however cannot be physically present at all times along all of our transit corridors. The implementation of
50	50	emergency communication and video surveillance systems, which do not require additional field staffing,
51	51	can help to prevent crime and, where crime does occur, to identify perpetrators.
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53	53	This bill would require DMPSJ, in consultation with the District Department of Transportation
54	54	(DDOT), MPD, and MTPD, to establish a two-year demonstration program of emergency communication
55	55	and video surveillance systems across the city, starting with at least one station in each ward. At each site,
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59	59	DMPSJ will install an emergency communication station (often known as “blue lights”) and video
60	60	surveillance technology at various locations at or near bus stops, streetcar stops, train stations, or other
61	61	public spaces along transit corridors. The emergency communication station will have a bright blue or other
62	62	colored light to increase visibility of the station and a call button to allow a user to directly connect with
63	63	emergency response services. Continuous video surveillance technology will also be affixed to the station
64	64	or placed in close proximity to allow for video to be captured so as to both prevent offenses and to aid in
65	65	the identification of any perpetrators of criminal offenses.
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67	67	DMPSJ will collect and compile data on the project for a report to the Council at the end of the
68	68	two-year demonstration. DMPSJ will also prepare a comprehensive study and strategy for improving safety
69	69	along transit corridors in the District.
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71	71	Should you have any questions about this legislation, please contact my Legislative Director, Linn
72	72	Groft, at lgroft@dccouncil.gov or (205)440-7600.
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74	74	Thank you.
75	75
76	76	Best,
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78	78	Brooke Pinto
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80	80	_____________________________ _______________________________
81	81	Councilmember Matthew Frumin Councilmember Brooke Pinto
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83	83	_____________________________
84	84	Councilmember Anita Bonds
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86	86	1
87	87	A BILL 2
88	88	__________ 3
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90	90	5
91	91	IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 6
92	92	_________________ 7
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94	94	9
95	95	To establish a demonstration project focused on improving the safety of transit corridors and public 10
96	96	spaces using emergency communication stations and video surveillance technology to improve 11
97	97	access to emergency response and identify violators of District civil and criminal law, and to 12
98	98	require reporting on the demonstration project to the Council. 13
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100	100	BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may 15
101	101	be cited as the “Improving Safety and Emergency Response on Transit Corridors Amendment Act of 16
102	102	2023”. 17
103	103	Sec. 2. Definitions. 18
104	104	For the purposes of this act, the term: 19
105	105	(1) “Emergency communication station” means a fixed station, illuminated by a bright 20
106	106	blue or other colored light beacon, that features an alarm button that, when pressed, connects directly via 21
107	107	audio with emergency services dispatch. 22
108	108	(2) “Emergency communication and video surveillance system” means an emergency 23
109	109	communication station affixed with or in close proximity to continuous video surveillance technology 24
110	110	operated by or accessible to the Metropolitan Police Department. 25
111	111	(3) “Operator of an emergency communication and video surveillance system” means a 26
112	112	natural or legal person authorized to set up, test, or operate the emergency communication and video 27
113	113	surveillance system described herein. 28
114	114	(3) “Public transportation” means any bus, train, or streetcar within the Washington 29
115	115	Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, DC Circulator, or Streetcar transit systems operated in the District. 30 2
116	116	(4) “Bus stop” means any stop, either permanent or temporary, that is part of the 31
117	117	Metrobus, DC Circulator, or Streetcar lines within the bounds of the District. 32
118	118	(5) “Train station” means any stop, either permanent or temporary, that is part of the 33
119	119	Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority train matrix in the District. 34
120	120	(6) “Public space” means any location that is open and accessible to the general public 35
121	121	including public parks, train stations, and District sidewalks and streets. 36
122	122	Sec. 3. Transit Corridor Safety and Emergency Response program established. 37
123	123	(a) The Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice (“DMPSJ”), in consultation with the District 38
124	124	Department of Transportation (“DDOT”), Metropolitan Police Department (“MPD”), and the Metro 39
125	125	Transit Police Department (“MTPD”), shall establish a two-year demonstration program of emergency 40
126	126	communication and video surveillance systems to increase safety along transit routes in the District. 41
127	127	(b) DMPSJ, in coordination and consultation with DDOT, MPD, and MTPD, shall install 42
128	128	emergency communication and video surveillance systems at various strategic locations at or near bus 43
129	129	stops, train stations, or other public spaces throughout the District. 44
130	130	(c) The emergency communication and video surveillance systems shall be set up to promptly 45
131	131	connect District residents and visitors to emergency response services and captured video and audio shall 46
132	132	be used to identify violators of District criminal law. 47
133	133	Sec. 4. Demonstration program implementation. 48
134	134	As part of the implementation of the demonstration program, DMPSJ shall: 49
135	135	(a) Evaluate various emergency communication stations to identify the most appropriate 50
136	136	device for use in the District; 51
137	137	(b) Select locations for placement of emergency communication and video surveillance 52
138	138	systems in consultation with MPD, MTPD, and DDOT, provided that: 53
139	139	(1) Priority consideration shall be given for sites with higher incidence of: 54
140	140	(A) Late-night or early morning ridership; and 55
141	141	(B) Harassment, theft, or violent offenses; 56 3
142	142	(2) At least one emergency communication and video surveillance system shall 57
143	143	be installed in each ward; 58
144	144	(c) Provide a report to the Chairperson for the Committee with jurisdiction over the 59
145	145	DMPSJ describing how the site for each emergency communication and video surveillance system was 60
146	146	selected; 61
147	147	(d) Install signs providing notice to District public transportation patrons and other 62
148	148	residents and visitors where an emergency communication and video surveillance system is in use; and 63
149	149	(e) Collect appropriate data on the effectiveness of the emergency communication and 64
150	150	video surveillance system, including how often the emergency communication stations were activated, 65
151	151	whether audio, video, or other information captured from the systems led to the successful identification 66
152	152	of perpetrators of criminal or civil offenses, and whether incidents of criminal or civil offenses decreased 67
153	153	at or near the emergency communication and video surveillance system locations following the 68
154	154	installation of the emergency communication and video surveillance system. 69
155	155	Sec. 5. Demonstration program reporting. 70
156	156	One year after the effective date of this act and 60 days after the conclusion of the demonstration 71
157	157	project, DDOT shall submit a report on the results of the demonstration program to the Council. The 72
158	158	report shall include: 73
159	159	(a) The locations, date, and timestamps for when the emergency communication stations were 74
160	160	used; 75
161	161	(b) The total number of criminal charges issued for violations recorded or otherwise identified by 76
162	162	the emergency communication and video surveillance systems; 77
163	163	(c) The number of violations adjudicated and the results of such adjudications, including 78
164	164	breakdowns of dispositions made for violations recorded or otherwise identified by the emergency 79
165	165	communication system and accompanying video surveillance; and 80
166	166	(d) The expenses incurred by the District to implement the demonstration program. 81
167	167	Sec. 6. Maintenance requirements for emergency communication and video surveillance system. 82 4
168	168	DMPSJ shall provide for routine maintenance and repair of emergency communication 83
169	169	stations and video surveillance technology in accordance with recommendations from the manufacturers. 84
170	170	Sec. 7. Operator training for emergency communication systems. 85
171	171	Operators of an emergency communication and video surveillance system shall have 86
172	172	completed training in the procedures for the installation, testing, and operation of the device. 87
173	173	Sec. 8. Use of an emergency communication and video surveillance system. 88
174	174	(a) Each emergency communication station installed during the demonstration program shall be 89
175	175	equipped with a bright blue or other colored light indicating its presence from a distance, and an alarm 90
176	176	button that, when pressed, places a call to an emergency response dispatcher. 91
177	177	(b) Continuous video surveillance technology shall be affixed to or installed in close 92
178	178	proximity to each emergency communication station. 93
179	179	(c) The demonstration program shall utilize necessary technologies to ensure to the extent 94
180	180	practicable, that photographs, microphotographs, videotape, or other recorded images produced by the 95
181	181	emergency communication and video surveillance system shall include high quality images to identify the 96
182	182	individuals involved in any situation or altercation that leads to the activation of the device, to the extent 97
183	183	allowed by District and federal law. 98
184	184	Sec. 9. Blue Light and Bus Stop Violence Prevention study and report. 99
185	185	In Fiscal Year 2024, DMPSJ, in consultation with DDOT, MPD, and MTPD, shall conduct a 100
186	186	study on the prevalence of violence and crime that occurs at bus stops, train stations, and other public 101
187	187	spaces in the District and identify and evaluate short-term and long-term strategies for reducing crime in 102
188	188	those locations. DDOT shall provide a report to the Council within one year of enactment of this Act to 103
189	189	include recommendations on the feasibility, efficacy, and environmental impact of the identified violence-104
190	190	reducing strategies as well as a cost-benefit analysis of identified strategies. 105
191	191	Sec. 10. Rulemaking. 106
192	192	Within 180 days of the effective date of this act, the Mayor shall promulgate rules to implement 107
193	193	this act. The proposed rules shall be submitted to the Council for a 45-day period of review, excluding 108 5
194	194	Saturdays, Sundays, legal holidays, and days of Council recess. If the Council does not approve or 109
195	195	disapprove the proposed rules, in whole or in part, by resolution within this 45-day review period, the 110
196	196	proposed rules shall be deemed disapproved. 111
197	197	Sec. 11. Fiscal impact statement. 112
198	198	The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal impact 113
199	199	statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 114
200	200	2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a). 115
201	201	Sec. 12. Effective date. 116
202	202	This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, 117
203	203	action by the Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as provided in section 118
204	204	602(c)(2) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. 119
205	205	Official Code § 1-206.02(c)2)), and publication in the District of Columbia Register. 120