President Piñera enacts law on gating passageways and streets to make neighborhoods safer: “We will keep doing everything in our power to reduce crime and advance peace”
Originating from a citizen demand, the new legislation aims to improve public safety by allowing access control measures with separate entry and exit points to be instaled on passageways and streets.
Chile’s President Sebastián Piñera enacted a law on Monday that allows security systems to be instaled at the entry and exit points of passageways and streets. The measure will provide greater protection and peace of mind to citizens.
“Today, we are taking another step towards an objective that has motivated us since day one: to reduce crime and advance security, peace and tranquility for families,” the President said at an event in Santiago’s La Florida municipality. Also in attendance were Interior Minister Rodrigo Delgado, Transport Minister Gloria Hutt, Mayor Rodolfo Carter, and residents of the zone.
Although Law No. 20,499 regulates the gating of “dead-end” streets and passageways that have a single entrance and exit, for public safety reasons this new law modifies the current regulation to include streets and passageways that have separate entry and exit points.
Access control measures may now be implemented on streets and passageways with separate entry and exit points when the road in less than seven meters wide and its length does not exceed one block. The request must be made by 80% of the owners, their representatives or authorized residents of the enclosed properties.
The legislation expressely states that the control measures may not impact access by security agencies, firefighters or other public services, nor may they restrict pedestrian traffic. The new regulation notes that authorization cannot be granted for roads that are essential to the proper functioning of urban areas, like major avenues.
An Interior and Public Safety Ministry regulation will establish the characteristics of the gates and access control measures that may be implemented, ensuring that they can be deactivated in case of emergency.
“This is not isolated legislation. The fight has been going on for a long time and it has been difficult. For example, we have made progress on the Anti-Carjacking Law, the Anti-Barricade Law, the Anti-Looting Law, the law that prohibits fireworks, the STOP Plan and the Arms Control Law, but it is not enough,” the President explained.
“I hope that, with this law, the laws we have passed and those we urgently need to pass, we can give Chilean families more peace of mind, security, freedom and quality of life,” he concluded.