WASHINGTON — DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb introduced legislation Thursday that could make major changes to a 26-year-old law aimed at curbing violence in D.C. neighborhoods.
In 1998, the Drug-Related Nuisance Abatement Act was passed. It gave the office of the attormey general the power to sue properties that were known to have drug, prostitution or gun problems.
Now, the Secure Apartments For Everyone (SAFE) Regulation Amendment Act is looking to expand those crime combatting powers.
"Every Washingtonian deserves to feel safe in their home," said Attorney General Schwalb. "The SAFE Act offers a preventive, proactive suite of tools to address security concerns and enhance the District’s ability to work with tenants and landlords to develop tailored plans to address the needs of each building."
One of the changes the bill would bring includes giving DC Superior Court the ability to order a security assessment of properties that may be deemed "nuisance properties." If the landlord who maintains those properties dies not fox the issues, they can be fined up to $1,000 per day that the nuisance remains for 30 days, and up to $5,000 per day after that.
Here's what else the legislation will change:
- Expands the scope of the Nuisance Abatement Act to include serious crimes involving guns, enhancing OAG’s ability to enforce the Nuisance Abatement Act in situations where crimes of violence or dangerous crimes involving a firearm are occurring at a property.
- Mandates on-site security assessments by the Department of Buildings for any property where one of the following thresholds has been met:
- 2 seizures of controlled substances within a three-month period;
- 2 seizures of firearms within a six-month period; or
- 2 arrests for crimes of violence or dangerous crimes committed at the property within a six-month period.
- Following a security assessment, requires the Department of Buildings to issue a report detailing specific measures that should be taken to address safety concerns.
- This report must be shared with the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Tenant Advocate, the associated Advisory Neighborhood Commission and Ward Councilmember office, and the president of any applicable tenant association.
- Requires all rental properties with 5 or more units to maintain self-closing and self-locking exterior doors and adhere to minimum standards for exterior lighting.
Currently both violent crime and property crime are down compared to this time last year, by 31% and 15% respectively.
