Council Enacts Ban of Certain Car Alarms
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The City Council yesterday approved a package of legislation related to street safety and overrode a mayoral veto of a bill to ban the sale of certain car alarms.
During its monthly meeting the council passed a hodgepodge of bills, ranging from new mandates to detect stray voltage at utility work sites on the street to increased penalties against drag racing.
The first measure, which was taken up in response to the death of Jodie Lane, a Manhattan resident who was electrocuted in January when she stepped onto a metal sidewalk plate, requires Consolidated Edison to produce annual inspection reports and the city Department of Transportation to randomly test work sites.
Council Speaker Gifford Miller said the bill, which has the support of the Bloomberg administration, would prevent unnecessary deaths like Lane’s.
“No one, no one should have to live in fear that their next step in the streets of New York will be their last,” said Mr. Miller during a news conference that was attended by Lane’s boyfriend, Alex Wilbourne.
Sponsored by Margarita Lopez, a Democrat of Manhattan, the bill was the product of several packed hearings. Mr. Wilbourne, who spoke softly and seemed despondent, said he was pleased that the city had taken action, but that more needs to be done on the state level.
Con Ed had been responsible for its own oversight.
The council also overrode a mayoral veto yesterday on legislation banning the sale and installation of audible car alarms that either sound for longer than three minutes or are motion-activated.
Though the alarms were made illegal to use in 1993, until now there have been no rules prohibiting their sale in the five boroughs.
In a veto message last month, Mayor Bloomberg said the city’s noise code already regulated car alarms and that the law would increase car theft. On another street safety issue, the council’s minority whip, Dennis Gallagher, introduced a bill yesterday to establish a curfew for individuals under the age 18.
The bill, which is not expected to get support from the full council, would allow police officers to demand proof of age from anyone they suspect is violating the curfew, which would run between midnight and 6 p.m.
The council also:
* Passed legislation to house a much discussed $1.3 billion water filtration plant under Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. In exchange for the legislation, which was adamantly opposed by surrounding residents, Bronx parks will get $200 million.
* Approved a law banning the sale of motorized scooters, or “pocket rockets,” in the city. The scooters had been illegal to ride but not to sell in the city. The Bloomberg administration is against the legislation.
* Approved a law that prohibits watching or participating in a drag race.
* Overrode a veto that makes it easier for some pay-phone franchise owners to keep franchises without city intervention.