Nicole Raz
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON (WMAL) — D.C.’s crime rate climbed by 54 percent last year. D.C. Councilmember Charles Allen is working to push emergency legislation through the council Tuesday, which he says will deter crime going forward.

The Private Security Camera System Incentive Program Emergency Act of 2016, would give home owners and business owners a rebate for installing video cameras.

“We have approved $500,000 funding in the budget to do this, but we really have lacked the authorization to get the program going,” Allen told WMAL.

Property owners would get $200 per camera up to $500, and the maximum would be $750 for a business, nonprofit, or religious institutions.

“There’s any number of cases where the police have aided by these cameras that are on the front porch of someone’s home, or attached to the exterior of somebody’s business,” he said.

MPD’s online video feed reveals 20 percent of the videos posted are from privately owned security cameras installed on homes and businesses.

“We know that this makes up a significant portion of the eyes on street that helps MPD,” he said.

To be eligible for the rebate, property owners would have to register their cameras with MPD.

“What would happen is, if a crime does take place, MPD would then reach out to you. MPD would know that you’re on that block and know that you have a registered video system, and they’d contact the business or home owner and ask if they can see a copy of that footage.”

The legislation also ensures that there’s a minimum of at least one priority neighborhood within each ward where the rebates will be available.

Copyright 2016 by WMAL.com. All Rights Reserved. (PHOTO: Councilmember Charles Allen)