Local

Fulton County Wants To Make Gas Stations Safer

WABE

December 21st, 2016

Crime at gas stations have been on the rise for the last year in parts of Fulton County.

That’s according to county commission chair John Eaves who says he’s taking steps toward a solution.

Fulton County police have already increased patrols at gas stations. And Eaves says commissioners will talk next week about creating legislation requiring gas stations to beef up security.

“We don’t want one gas station to do a lot, and then the bad guys run to the gas station that’s doing nothing or little,” Eaves said.

The move comes after a recent carjacking at a BP gas station off Cascade Road. The station has invested $22,000 of its own funds to add more security cameras.

Atlanta City Councilmember Keisha Lance Bottoms has already introduced legislation that could force gas stations in the city to increase security on their own dime.

The ordinance would apply to stations that have had more than two violent crimes in the past year, or that make more than $500,000 a year in profit.

Eaves says the county’s legislation could parallel the city’s in some ways. But he says he doesn’t like one section of the proposed city ordinance that would penalize stations that don’t comply by refusing renewal of their business licenses.