Thursday, July 8, 2004

LA Moves to Regulate Cyber Cafes

The Los Angeles City Council has approved an ordinance restricting cyber cafes and requiring special security rules for those businesses. The move was in response to a shooting at a San Fernando Valley cyber cafe. According to the motion considered by the City Council, the number of violent incidents at cyber cafes and the focus of the cafes on violent online video games made it necessary to require a police permit, security cameras and limited hours for minors. The council had been considering the move since January, and had initiated a study with the Public Safety Committee and the Board of Police Commissioners to investigate the number of incidents and provide recommendations on preventing violent incidents.

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