D.C. Council Member Yvette Alexander’s harrowing experience at a local service station has spurred legislation to crack down on what she calls a “great threat” to the safety of District residents: gas-station crime.
Over the past year, Alexander said last week, there have been 632 crimes committed at D.C. gas stations, including 182 in Ward 7, which she represents. One of those incidents occurred June 10, when Alexander’s purse was pilfered from her Range Rover while it was parked at a Southeast station.
“These figures are astounding,” she said. “We must act immediately to combat this great threat to the safety of our communities.”
Her legislation, which was co-sponsored by four colleagues, mandates that all District retail service stations install video surveillance to monitor pumps, to deter criminals and to help solve crimes. It requires signs at all pumps warning customers to remove their keys, to lock all doors and to be mindful of their surroundings.
And it requires the Metropolitan Police Department to develop a public-service announcement that warns consumers “of the potential dangers at retail service station.”
Members of the Washington, Maryland, Delaware Service Station and Automotive Repair Association are generally behind the bill, said Paul Fiore, the group’s director of government affairs. In any case, he said, most gas-station operators already have security cameras.
“It’s unfortunate circumstances that we work with today but it’s almost a necessity,” Fiore said.
Fiore did question, however, whether similar security upgrades should be required at the District’s liquor or convenience stores.
