Would the past week's Cronut catastrophe have ended differently if there'd been further evidence for or against a mouse infestation? That's the question posed by two city council members, who will propose legislation today requiring photographic evidence by city inspectors for health, sanitation and parking violations.
"People have a right to insist that there be evidence of what they're being charged with," declared Bronx City Councilman Vacca. "Why have a he said-she said situation?" There's a simultaneous push by Staten Island councilman Vincent Ignizio, who wants to arm 10% of the city's health inspectors with video devices, possibly including the oft-ridiculed Google Glass.
Per the terms of Vacca's bill, tickets issued for parking infractions would require a photograph showing the vehicle parked in a bus stop, handicapped spot or other violations. Similarly, health inspectors would need photos of rambunctious rats or their droppings to prove the violation existed on their visit. The bill would hold inspectors accountable for their reports and hopefully would also cut down on restaurants fighting charges in court. "People who are wrong will not take the time to appeal," says Vacca. "The picture will prove they have no case."
Ignizio's bill already has 22 of the 51 members of the city council on board, many of whom say they're frustrated by the complaints coming from both sides of the issue. One sticking point: the price. Google Glass's retail prices doesn't sit well with the city's budget; backers of the bill say they'd want cameras to average around $200 for the inspectors involved in the yearlong pilot program. Maybe they can just borrow some from the NYPD.
