A new bill introduced in Washington D.C. is seeking to address high crime rates by permitting restaurants, bars, and retail stores to go cashless. The proposed legislation aims to provide exemptions to a previous law that prohibited retail establishments from refusing cash payments.
City Council member Christina Henderson highlighted that businesses often opt for cashless transactions to safeguard their employees. She emphasized that many retailers face safety concerns, including being targets of robbery and theft. Going cashless is seen as a strategic response to mitigate these risks and reduce opportunities for criminals.
The Entertainment Establishment Employee Safety Amendment Act of 2024, introduced by Henderson, along with Council members Brooke Pinto and Matthew Frumin, focuses on exempting Class C and D alcohol license holders from mandatory cash acceptance. Class C license holders, which include restaurants, hotels, taverns, nightclubs, and entertainment venues selling spirits, beer, and wine, would benefit from this legislation.
Henderson explained that the bill was proposed in response to requests from the Nightlife Council and the Restaurant Association to enhance security for their establishments, employees, and patrons. The legislation underscores that businesses, particularly those selling alcohol, are concerned about employee safety due to incidents of robbery and burglary.
The bill emphasizes that cashless businesses face lower risks of robbery and burglary compared to those handling cash transactions. It also notes that the primary reasons for avoiding cash payments include reducing the likelihood of theft, offering non-cash payment options, and minimizing internal theft.
The bill has been referred to the Committee of the Whole following comments from the Committee on Business and Economic Development. This legislative move comes after D.C. previously passed the Cashless Retailers Prohibition Act in 2020, which prohibited discrimination against cash payments. A provision added in 2024 temporarily halted the law's enforcement due to public safety concerns, set to expire on January 1, 2025.
While cities like New York City and San Francisco have banned cashless stores to protect customers who rely on cash payments, other cities like Oakland have embraced cashless transactions to combat increasing crime rates.
