NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2185
SPONSOR: Rosenthal L TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in
relation to requiring alternating high and low, two-toned signal devices
on emergency services vehicles
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To address one of the most common NYC noise complaints-excessively loud
sirens.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Amends the NYC Administrative Code to give clearer guidance on the type
of emergency sirens that are permissible.
JUSTIFICATION:
Just because loud sirens have become the norm in many of our communi-
ties, does not mean they are the most effective device to facilitate the
express movements of emergency vehicles. Other countries have, for
decades, employed alternating high and low, two-toned signal devices
with success.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-22: A.10579 - Referred to Cities; S.8601 - Referred to Cities
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None of consequence noted.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 180 days after it shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2185
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 23, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. L. ROSENTHAL -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Cities
AN ACT to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in
relation to requiring alternating high and low, two-toned signal
devices on emergency services vehicles
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision (b) of section 24-241 of the administrative
2 code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 113 of the
3 city of New York for the year 2005, is amended to read as follows:
4 (b) No person shall operate or permit to be operated an emergency
5 signal device installed on an authorized emergency vehicle [that when]
6 unless:
7 1. When operated at the maximum level such emergency signal device
8 creates a sound level [in excess of] that does not exceed 90 dB(A) when
9 measured at a distance of fifty feet from the center of the forward face
10 of such vehicle[.]; and
11 2. Such emergency signal device produces an alternating high and low,
12 two-toned sound in accordance with implementation standards established
13 by the department.
14 (c) Within one year after the effective date of this subdivision and
15 every two years thereafter, emergency signal devices installed on
16 authorized emergency vehicles shall be tested and certification shall be
17 submitted, in a form approved by the department, that such devices meet
18 the [standard] standards set forth in [this] subdivision (b) of this
19 section for operation at maximum level and with an alternating high and
20 low two-toned sound. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, where
21 compliance with the provisions of [this] subdivision (b) of this section
22 would create an undue hardship, the owner or operator of an authorized
23 emergency vehicle may submit a plan to the commissioner for emergency
24 signal devices to meet the [standard] standards set forth in [this]
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05850-01-3
A. 2185 2
1 subdivision (b) of this section within two years after the effective
2 date of this subdivision. Such plan shall be submitted within one year
3 after the effective date of this subdivision in lieu of the required
4 certification. [This subdivision shall not apply to authorized emergency
5 vehicles of the police department, fire department or authorized emer-
6 gency vehicles responding to medical emergencies.]
7 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
8 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
9 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
10 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
11 completed on or before such effective date.
