C-stores in the city of Poughkeepsie, N.Y. are about to face a new curfew. Stores that wish to stay open past 11p.m. soon must comply with new safety regulations or they will be faced with fines or potential closure, the Poughkeepsie Journal reported.
Stores that remain open late will be required to display security cameras and other safety features, as well as pay $500 per year to the city for a permit that will allow them to operate overnight.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Paul Ackermann told the Poughkeepsie Journal that c-store owners will have until mid-October to adhere to the new requirements before the city takes action against non-compliant stores.
If any stores fail to meet the regulations, “we’ll bring them into court to force compliance,” Ackermann said.
The regulations were approved by the city’s Common Council in May in an effort to discourage problems with illegal drug sales, loitering and other criminal activity in and around some convenience stores, hopefully making stores safer for employees and customers, and to ease concerns of neighbors.