Bill > S2561

Introduced Session

This bill allows municipal and county police departments to establish designated safe areas which may be used by members of the public to conduct sales transactions for items listed on classified websites, such as craigslist. For the purpose of ensuring public safety, the bill allows municipal and county police departments to install a video camera capable of recording a clear image of the designated safe area at all times the area is made available to the public. The bill provides that local police departments and their members would not be responsible for regulating the sales transactions or civilly liable for crimes or offenses committed by participants to the sales transactions. In addition, the bill requires the Attorney General to notify chief law enforcement officers that they are permitted to establish a designated safe area on municipal and county police department property. The Attorney General also is required to conduct a public awareness campaign, utilizing the Internet and any other available resources, to inform the general public about designated safe areas established throughout the State. The public awareness campaign is to include an updated list of police departments that have established designated safe areas and safety tips to decrease the risk of crime when engaging in Internet sales transactions. It is the sponsor's intent to reduce the risk of crime associated with purchases arranged through craigslist and other online marketplaces by requiring police departments to reserve safe areas at their stations for people to complete sales transactions.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Christopher Bateman (R)*,  Shirley Turner (D)*,  Anthony Bucco (R), 

Referred to Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee (on 09/17/2018)