Council approves parking-lot surveillance ordinance after heated debate

Cincinnati City Council on Sept. 30 approved version D of a revised ordinance modifying chapter 4.13 of the Cincinnati Municipal Code governing parking garages and parking lots, a measure that includes new camera, signage and barrier requirements for many surface and structured lots. After the roll call, council moved to indefinitely suspend an alternate version (item 23).

Supporters framed the ordinance as a public-safety tool aimed at curbing thefts from vehicles. "More than 70% [of stolen guns] are stolen from cars," Vice Mayor Kearney said during debate, and councilmember Salbee cited local figures, saying "already this year we've had 267 guns stolen out of cars." Councilmember Jeffries referenced expert testimony noting 324 guns stolen last year and that 100 were used in crimes.

Public commenters and some councilmembers urged caution about expanding surveillance. Samantha Searls, a program director at Ignite Peace, told the council that linking lot cameras through vendor networks risks privacy harms and could disproportionately affect immigrant neighbors: "Mass surveillance undermines these principles, treating everyone as a suspect and taking away their right to privacy." Another commenter noted that the proposed rules apply only to paid parking spaces and argued that paid spaces are a small fraction of total parking, meaning the law would affect a limited subset of locations.

Council discussion included alternatives for operators — attendants or private security rather than cameras — and consumer protections such as clearer signage and towing safeguards included in the version D compromise. Sponsors said the ordinance gives operators choices (attendant, guard or camera) and includes consumer-protection requirements to improve customer experience.

Roll-call votes on item 22 (version D) recorded a majority in favor; two members voted no. Council then voted to indefinitely suspend the alternate item 23. The ordinance language and its enforcement details will guide implementation and the administration has been asked to provide an updated surveillance briefing to council.

Key factual details from the meeting: council cited locally recorded figures on stolen guns from vehicles, expert testimony provided historical counts (324 stolen in one year; 100 directly used in crimes), and public comment raised an estimate that Cincinnati has 1,300,000 parking spaces citywide while only about 40,000 are downtown (a figure used in public comment to illustrate scale).