A new bill in Washington, D.C., aims to combat high crime rates by allowing cashless payments at restaurants, bars, and other retail establishments.
The bill seeks to carve out an exception to existing laws that prohibit retailers from refusing to take cash payments.
City Council Member Christina Henderson told Fox News Digital that businesses are primarily refusing to take cash payments to protect their employees.
“Many of the crime and safety concerns retailers currently have relate to being targets for robbery and theft. Eliminating cash is a natural response to these crimes and will reduce the opportunities for people to access cash stored on retail premises,” she said.
A new bill from the Washington, D.C. City Council could allow some retailers to ban cash payments. (iStock)
Henderson, along with City Council members Brooke Pinto and Matthew Frumin, introduced the Entertainment Venues Employee Safety Amendment Act of 2024 on Tuesday.
bill It seeks to exempt Class C and D alcohol licensees from the requirement to accept cash payments. Class C alcohol licensees are “restaurants, hotels, taverns, nightclubs and other entertainment establishments” that sell distilled spirits, beer and wine.
“The Entertainment Venues Employee Safety Amendment Act of 2024 was introduced as a solution to calls by the Nightlife Council and the Restaurant Association for legislation to protect venues, staff and customers,” Henderson said. Fox News Digital.
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“Many businesses, especially those that sell alcohol, are concerned about the safety of their employees, and multiple stories of successful and attempted robberies and thefts have been shared. Cashless businesses are not at risk of robbery in the same way as businesses that keep cash on hand,” the bill states.
Washington, D.C. previously enacted a bill requiring stores to offer cash payment options. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images)
It further states that “the primary reason for merchants to avoid cash payments is to reduce the risk of robbery and theft, followed by the availability of non-cash payment options and reducing the risk of insider theft.”
The bill was referred to a Committee of the Whole House prior to first reading, with comments from the Business and Economic Development Committee.
In 2020, DC passed the Cashless Retailer Prohibition Act, which prohibits retailers from discriminating against cash payments. In 2024, a clause was added to suspend enforcement of the law, citing “public safety concerns.” The clause is set to expire on January 1, 2025.
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In response to rising crime, some cities are allowing businesses to ban cash payments. (iStock)
Other cities, including New York City and San Francisco, have previously banned cashless stores, calling them unfair to customers who prefer or can only pay with cash.
but, Cities like Auckland To combat rising crime rates, they banned cash payments.
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