Washington DC City Councilman Proposes Businesses Go Cashless to Combat Crime

A new bill in Washington DC aims to reduce crime by allowing restaurants, bars and other retail stores to no longer accept cash.

The bill seeks to exempt retail businesses from a previously enacted law that prohibits them from refusing cash payments.

City Council member Christina Henderson told Fox News Digital that businesses are refusing cash payments primarily to protect their workers.

“Many of the current crime and safety concerns for our retailers are related to the fact that they are being targeted for robberies and theft. Going cashless seems an obvious choice in response to these crimes, to limit the opportunities for those who want to profit from cash held on the premises of these retailers,” she said.

A new bill from the Washington DC City Council could give several stores the ability to ban cash payments. (iStock)

Henderson, along with City Councilmembers Brooke Pinto and Matthew Frumin, filed the Entertainment Establishment Employee Safety Amendment Act of 2024 on Tuesday.

The bill seeks to exempt Class C and D liquor license holders from the requirement to accept cash as payment. It categorizes Class C liquor license holders as “restaurants, hotels, taverns, nightclubs and other places of entertainment” that sell liquor, beer and wine.

“The Entertainment Establishment Employee Safety Amendment Act of 2024 was introduced as a solution to the Nightlife Council and the Restaurant Association’s request for legislation to protect their establishments, staff and customers,” Henderson said. Fox News Digital.

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The bill states: “Many businesses, particularly those that sell alcohol, are concerned about the safety of their employees and have shared multiple stories of successful and attempted robberies and break-ins. Businesses that do not carry cash are not at risk of robbery, just like businesses that do carry cash.”

Washington DC previously passed a bill that would allow stores to accept cash payments. (NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images)

The article continues: “The main reason why companies choose not to accept cash payments is to reduce the risk of theft and burglary. In addition, there are other payment options available and they want to reduce the risk of internal theft.”

The bill has been referred to the Committee as a whole, with comments from the Committee on Economic Development and Business prior to first reading.

In 2020, D.C. passed the Cashless Retailers Prohibition Act, which prohibited retail businesses from discriminating against cash payments. In 2024, a provision was added to pause implementation of the law due to “public safety concerns.” The provision expires on January 1, 2025.

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Some cities have allowed businesses to ban cash payments after crime rose. (iStock)

Other cities, such as New York City and San Francisco, have previously banned cashless stores, arguing that it is unfair to customers who prefer to pay in cash or who can only do so.

However, businesses in cities like Oakland have banned cash payments to combat rising crime.

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Lindsay Kornick is an associate editor for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @lmkornick.