Tuesday, May 25, 2004, Noon to 12:30 PM
on the steps of City Hall

On Tuesday, May 25th, 2004 at noon, parents and children from across the city will join Transportation Alternatives to protest Speaker Miller's obstruction of Int. 115, the bill to ban all car alarm sirens from New York City streets.

Participants will march silently on the steps of City Hall, holding signs, wearing noise-blocking earmuffs and urging the City Council Speaker to hold a hearing on Int. 115.

"A ban on noisy, aggravating car alarm sirens is clearly in the public interest," says Aaron Friedman, project manager for Transportation Alternatives. "No evidence shows that these alarms actually deter theft. Motorists can save money on their insurance by switching to the inexpensive, silent devices that really work. And 97% of drivers can turn off their existing alarms as easily as a cell phone. Why should New Yorkers have to put up with these noisemakers any longer?"

On Monday, May 24th, in reaction to this rally, Speaker Miller announced a June 10th hearing on Int. 81, which would ban the sale and installation of new car alarm sirens. Int. 81 does not ban all car alarm sirens.

Twenty-two City Council members, spread across each borough from the Bronx to Brighton Beach, now co-sponsor legislation to ban car alarms. Another four Council members, including the chair of the Environmental Protection Committee, have gone on record supporting the ban.

Indeed, it's hard to find anyone who enjoys the sound of the famous six-tone "revenger" siren late at night. Even car alarm installers prefer the two-way pagers that buzz in an owner's pocket, instead of waking up the entire neighborhood. Over fifty installers, eager to sell these silent devices, have pledged to disable car alarm sirens without cost, if the ban takes effect.

Car alarm legislation co-sponsors (district)

Bronx
Helen Foster (16)
Madeline Provenzano (13)
Jose Serrano (17)
Brooklyn
Yvette Clarke (40)
Simcha Felder (44)
Vincent Gentile (43)
Letitia James (35)
Michael Nelson (48)
Domenic Recchia, Jr. (47)
David Yassky (33)
Manhattan
Gale Brewer (6)
Alan Gerson (1)
Robert Jackson (7)
Miguel Martinez (10)
Eva Moskowitz (4)
Christine Quinn (3)
Philip Reed (8)
Queens
Melinda Katz (29)
John Liu (20)
Hiram Monserrate (21)
David Weprin (23)
Staten Island
Michael McMahon (49)

Website: http://www.bancaralarms.org