Internet sites like Craigslist and Facebook have opened up the world of commerce, with person-to-person sales of everything from concert tickets and clothing to automobiles and electronics.
But agreeing to meet strangers—often with cash in hand—can leave buyers and sellers a bit nervous. A few high-profile cases involving robberies and assaults have highlighted the importance of taking precautions and meeting in a public place when completing a sale.
Enter Internet exchange zones.
More and more municipalities around the country and in South Carolina are offering well-lit parking lots as a place to finalize sales made through online marketplaces and social media sites.
While city officials are careful to not get involved in the exchanges, they believe people will be more likely to play by the rules if the exchanges are conducted on municipal property with lights and police officers nearby.
Followers of the Lexington Police Department’s Facebook page asked about the possibility of setting up a video-monitored area to increase the safety of buyers and sellers. Lexington officials responded and designated a spot in the municipal complex’s parking lot where there is a video camera recording the area 24 hours a day.
"The Internet Purchase Exchange Location is a good example of our department engaging with and taking suggestions from our social media followers," Lexington Police Chief Terrence Green said. "And with many in the community engaging in Internet sales, it only makes sense to create a safe location for exchanges like these to take place."
The City of Hanahan is setting up an Internet purchase zone at the City Hall complex, where the police headquarters and main fire station also are housed. Already, city officials have installed video cameras, upgraded lighting and added signs marking the area.
"In a very small percentage of Internet-based transactions, there has proven to be a criminal element that exposes the public to risk," Hanahan City Manager Johnny Cribb said. "We have created a safe purchase zone because the reality is that many people are choosing this route to purchase and sell items, and we want to be responsive and do whatever we can to protect the safety of our citizens."
In West Columbia, the idea for an exchange zone came during a daylong city council goal-setting session. A councilmember suggested the zone as a way to serve the community.
"We have an open and spacious city hall parking lot with a video camera," explained West Columbia City Administrator Brian Carter. "We can let people know there is a well-lit place where they can make exchanges."
Because the concept of exchange zones is relatively new, information about liability and protection for cities is scarce.
West Columbia reviewed resolutions and policies from cities around the country, and, as a member of the SC Municipal Insurance and Risk Financing Fund, reached out to the Municipal Association’s Risk Management Services staff for guidance.
In doing his research, Carter discovered some cities have chosen to call these areas "exchange zones" rather than "safe exchange zones" because they did not want to give the appearance of guaranteeing something.
"We can’t guarantee ‘safety’ so West Columbia chose the term ‘exchange zone,’" Carter said. "That was deliberate."
Other best practices for creating Internet exchange zones include prohibiting transactions involving guns, knives or other weapons, and posting information about the exchange zones on the city’s website along safety tips about online purchases.