Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, Councilmember Kate Stewart, Chief Marcus Jones, and other community leaders gathered on February 13, 2023 to announce the introduction of legislation to improve safety for businesses and residents throughout the county.

The Late Night Business Safety Plan legislation would establish new rules for nighttime businesses in areas with higher calls for service during certain late night hours to develop Safety Plans in conjunction with the Montgomery County Police Department. Plans could include measures such as high-quality video monitoring of the property, better outdoor lighting, and the use of security guards.

According to a press release from the County, many businesses have already complied with these changes voluntarily and those changes have seen significant reductions in calls for service in and around their facilities.  The goal of the legislation is to broaden safety protocols for all businesses which stay open late as the community works to strike a balance between having a vibrant nightlife and a safe environment for everyone to enjoy.