Q&A
DCWP's inspection strategy and enforcement approach
0:12:55
ยท
82 sec
Council Member Julie Menin inquires about DCWP's overall strategy for inspections of retail establishments. Carlos Ortiz explains that DCWP conducts both patrol inspections and inspections in response to complaints. He details the inspection process, including the use of checklists and the escalation of repeated violations to more in-depth investigations.
- Inspectors use standardized checklists during visits
- DCWP prioritizes repeat visits for businesses with observed violations
- Patterns of complaints can lead to attorney-focused investigations
Julie Menin
0:12:55
What is the agency's overall strategy for inspections?
Carlos Ortiz
0:13:04
So, typically, our our inspection posture is, in terms of enforcement, is to either conduct, patrol inspections or or inspections upon complaint.
0:13:15
I think with respect to patrol inspections or or inspection upon complaints, if there's a violation that we observe at particular business, we work also to prioritize that for, a repeat visit as well to ensure that any, that we're tamping down any recidivist behavior.
0:13:31
Whether it's patrol or whether it's a a response to complaint, when an inspector goes into a business, what we do is, they have a checklist that they're required to use depending on the category that category of activity that they've observed.
0:13:43
They'll review this checklist, and ensure that whether or not there's compliance, if they observe a violation, they'll issue a violation for that.
0:13:50
And in fact, it is the same checklist that we work to distribute to businesses as an educational material so that they know exactly what it is our inspectors look for when we're in the in the field.
0:13:59
I think, generally, if we start seeing a pattern of complaints, at a particular business, that will that could escalate that point to more attorney focused work where we will launch we'll look deeper into the business, launch an investigation, as necessary, perhaps bring petitions to oath, along those lines as well.