Along with the sacrifice of certain civil liberties after 9/11 has come the sacrifice of being able to do stupid things in bars.
For several months, local-area liquor-serving establishments have been increasingly pressured by the city to install video cameras, so that in the event a crime is committed, law-enforcement officials will have access to hard evidence. But many, including city officials view this policy as an infringement of privacy and an unneccessary surveillance measure.
Although the majority of bar-goers in Madison are relatively well behaved, some believe the issue delves deeper than simply curbing rowdy behavior. Former Madison mayor Paul Soglin says the ordinance only will continue an American pattern of taking away civil liberties.
“We used to be very proud as a nation that one could move about freely and unfettered,” Soglin said. “It’s too much Big Brother. I don’t like the intrusion of government to that extent.”
Ald. Tom Powell, District 5 agreed, and said he felt the ordinance would not have a significant benefit.
“If a business owner wants to have surveillance in their business, that’s their business,” Powell said. “But I can’t think of a single situation where it’s been useful in fighting crime.”
Powell recently proposed an amendment to the current ordinance which states that the Alcohol License Review Committee may not require any liquor applicant to install video cameras in their establishment as a license condition.
Ald. Tim Bruer, District 14, the co-chair of the Alcohol License Review Committee, said the bars would benefit from videotaping being a requirement, and in turn it would have a great benefit for the city.
“It gives [bars] some cover with customers, so they can say that the city made them do it,” said Bruer. “License holders have been clear that it’s an effective, valuable tool. It makes a difference with drug activity and security.”
Obviously this ordinance has some Madison-area college students concerned. Will Aquino, a resident adviser at the Highlander Private Residence Hall and frequent bar-hopper, said he thinks the videotaping policy will have little effect, if any, in curbing the use or sale of drugs and other illegal substances.
“Coming from New York, it is very rare to find an establishment without very high security,” he said. “But in Madison, if someone wants to buy or sell drugs, they’ll go into the back or into the bathroom, where there are no cameras. All it will do is maybe regulate the activity of employees.”
