Charlotte Landlords Subject To New Scrutiny

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by Kirk Hawkins
Bio | Email | Follow: @kirkhawkins

Story Created: May 31, 2012 at 11:01 PM EDT

Story Updated: May 31, 2012 at 11:01 PM EDT

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--Tom Latimer's apartment complex in Southeast Charlotte is in a neighborhood that Charlotte Mecklenburg Police say has kept them busy yet it hasn't been a problem.

But because of some changes to a 2-year-old city ordinance, Latimer said he was unfairly targeted.
"If you never did anything in your life, your finger prints are not on file. So here what they are asking you to do is put your fingerprints. So anything we have in the future. Anything that comes through. We're gonna run it through you," he said.

Latimer said C.M.P.D. shouldn't force him to fight crime. "It makes them accountable on something they know absolutely nothing about," he said.

Police say the information they're seeking is already part of the public record. Officers say their database will allow investigators to access it quickly. C.M.P.D.'s Police Attorney Mark Newbold said, "Its a balance between a legitimate need for law enforcement to prevent crime from occurring but  also holding people accountable when they knew crime was occurring on their property."

Newbold said the landlords who own more than 117-thousand rental units in the Queen City have the responsibility to prevent crime. "This is an issue that doesn't affect just property owners. It affects the entire neighborhood," said Newbold.

C.M.P.D. said landlords found violating the ordinance could be fined or given a citation.
The "Residential Rental Property" ordinance takes effect in January.

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