Legislation Details

File #: Int 1025-2026    Version: * Name: The use of time-delays and scanning technologies for encrypted police radio communications.
Type: Introduction Status: Committee
Committee: Committee on Public Safety
On agenda: 9/10/2026
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the use of time-delays and scanning technologies for encrypted police radio communications
Sponsors: Gale A. Brewer
Council Member Sponsors: 1
Summary: Local Law 46 of 2026 requires that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) adopt a policy for the Departments use of encrypted radio communications. This legislation would amend those provisions by requiring that the NYPD broadcast certain encrypted channels to professional journalists with a time-delay of no more than 15 minutes, and to require that the system used by NYPD to broadcast encrypted channels permits users to scan available channels to locate radio transmissions.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 1025, 2. Int. No. 1025, 3. Memorandum in Support, 4. September 10, 2026 - Stated Meeting Agenda

Int. No 1025

 

By Council Member Brewer

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the use of time-delays and scanning technologies for encrypted police radio communications

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

 

Section 1. Paragraph 2 of subdivision b of section 14-199.2 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as added by local law number 46 for the year 2026, is amended to read as follows:

(2) Encrypted radio communications transmitted over all precinct-level, borough-level, transit, and housing bureau channels, and any other department channel that does not routinely transmit sensitive information, shall be available to professional journalists who have (i) received press credentials in accordance with section 3-119.4; and (ii) paid reasonable costs, not to exceed costs incurred by the department to provide such access. Any such encrypted radio communication shall be made available pursuant to this paragraph no more than 15 minutes after its initial transmission by department personnel and shall be available through a system that allows users to scan for active transmissions by automatically cycling through available department channels and frequencies to locate radio transmissions.

§ 2. This local law takes effect immediately.

JDK

LS 26258

9/4/2026