Ban Car Alarms

Get the Whoop Out!
City Council Car Alarm Ban Hearing June 10 at 10 am, City Council Chambers in City Hall

City Council Speaker Gifford Miller has finally scheduled a hearing on a proposed bill to ban audible car alarms. Unfortunately, it’s the wrong bill.

Int. 81, the proposed bill, would only ban the sale and installation of new car alarm sirens, not their use. Under this weak bill, sirens can sound off so long as they are purchased outside of the city. This weak bill will not stop the noise.

Int. 115--which Miller refuses to consider--is a much stronger bill that would completely ban the use of car alarm sirens in New York City. What is more, this strong bill would be easier to implement and enforce because it would apply to all car alarms, regardless of their origin.

So what’s the problem?

City Council Speaker Gifford Miller and a few other well-intentioned yet misinformed councilmembers still claim that it’s too difficult and expensive for consumers to turn off their alarms. But this is simply not true; turning off a car alarm is analogous to turning off a cell phone. Miller has written this letter explaining his erroneous position, which we have annotated. Also see our memo on how easy it is to turn off alarm sirens.

Come to the hearing on Thursday, June 10 at 10 am at City Hall and tell the council that New Yorkers will not rest until we get a full ban on the use of car alarm sirens. Arrive early to sign up to testify. Even if you do not want to testify, we still need you there to send a strong message to the council.

Please also send a fax to Mayor Bloomberg asking him to improve the lives of all New Yorkers by pushing for a full ban on the use of car alarm sirens. Use the easy form below. If your e-mail program does not support forms, simply visit this page online: www.transalt.org/press/askta/040604caralarms.html#fax

Subject:

Dear Mayor Bloomberg:

Please improve the lives of all New Yorkers by supporting a ban on the use of audible car alarms in New York City. Parents, citizens, car alarm dealers and city councilmembers from throughout New York City all agree that audible car alarms destroy peace of mind and do nothing to reduce car theft. The City Council is currently considering Int. 81, a bill that will do nothing to stop the wail of car alarms. Please tell Gifford Miller and the rest of the council that New Yorkers deserve better, and that we will not rest until we get a full ban on car alarm sirens. Thank you,

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Please include your full contact information so that your message will be treated as official correspondence! Your message will be faxed to Mayor Bloomberg and e-mailed to Transportation Alternatives. If your e-mail program does not support forms, please visit this page online: www.transalt.org/press/askta/040604caralarms.html#fax

On Tuesday, May 25th, parents and children from across the city joined Transportation Alternatives to protest City Council Speaker Gifford Miller’s obstruction of Int. 115, the bill to ban all car alarm sirens from New York City streets. Speaker Miller responded by scheduling a hearing to consider a weaker bill that will do little to stop the wail of car alarms.

Read more about the campaign to ban car alarms at www.BanCarAlarms.org