NOLA City Council Considers Bill To Penalize Businesses That Harbor Crime

The New Orleans City Council is thinking of increasing penalties for troublesome businesses as a crime-fighting effort.

The new law would authorize the city and the police chief to shut down "chronic nuisance businesses that harbor violent and serious crime."

The law would apply to businesses that fail to deal promptly with drug dealing, theft, and violent crimes committed on their premises.

Under the law, businesses could be fined and have their operating licenses suspended for up to two years.