File #: Int 0595-2005    Version: * Name: Making the issuance of Metrocards to every first responder a requirement in order to adequately protect the public.
Type: Introduction Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Transportation
On agenda: 3/9/2005
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to making the issuance of Metrocards to every first responder a requirement in order to adequately protect the public.
Sponsors: Michael C. Nelson, Lewis A. Fidler, Alan J. Gerson, Hiram Monserrate, Kendall Stewart, James S. Oddo, Letitia James, David I. Weprin, Allan W. Jennings, Jr., Margarita Lopez, James F. Gennaro, Domenic M. Recchia, Jr., Diana Reyna, Eva S. Moskowitz, Helen Sears, Leroy G. Comrie, Jr., Bill Perkins, Vincent J. Gentile, Maria Baez, Christine C. Quinn, Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr., Gale A. Brewer, Yvette D. Clarke, Erik Martin Dilan, Sara M. Gonzalez, Melinda R. Katz, G. Oliver Koppell, Annabel Palma, James Sanders, Jr., Larry B. Seabrook, Miguel Martinez
Council Member Sponsors: 31
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/31/2005*Michael C. Nelson City Council Filed (End of Session)  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/9/2005*Michael C. Nelson City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
3/9/2005*Michael C. Nelson City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Int. No. 595

 

By Council Members Nelson, Fidler, Gerson, Monserrate, Stewart, Oddo, James, Weprin, Jennings, Lopez, Gennaro, Recchia Jr., Reyna, Moskowitz, Sears, Comrie, Perkins, Gentile, Baez, Quinn, Addabbo Jr., Brewer, Clarke, Dilan, Gonzalez, Katz, Koppell, Palma, Sanders Jr., Seabrook and Martinez

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to making the issuance of Metrocards to every first responder a requirement in order to adequately protect the public.

 

Be it enacted as by the Council as follows:

 

                     Section 1.  Legislative Intent and Findings

 

                     The Council hereby finds and declares that in order to ensure public safety for millions of subway commuters, it is necessary to equip all first responders including police officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians and private ambulance paramedics with a Metrocard for easy access to the subway system in the event of an emergency.

                     On Saturday, February 19, 2005, 26-year-old German Cabrera was shot on the subway platform at the West 18th Street IRT station in Chelsea.   Police officers responding to the incident were delayed in reaching the victim because they had no Metrocards to pass through the revolving high-wheel turnstiles.  The paramedics that arrived were also in a similar predicament as they too were without a Metrocard and had to be swiped in by a rider.

In these instances, of course, a working MetroCard proves to be just as important a tool to a police officer and paramedic as a pistol and bullet-resistant vest or a defibrillator.

                     It is not the intent of the Council to infringe upon these agencies’ authority over assigning operational equipment.  However, in light of the possible closing of 164 subway booths and the reported increase in violent incidents in the subway system, as well as impediments such as high-wheel turnstiles, the Council finds it necessary to adopt legislation that would make certain that all first responders have access to the transit system without difficulty.

§2. Chapter 1 of title 10 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended to add a new section 10-164, to read as follows:

§ 10-164. Issuance of Metrocards to first responders

a. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

1.                     “First responder” shall mean any member of the Police Department, Fire Department,

Emergency Medical Service or employee of a private ambulance company that contracts with the Fire Department to provide E911 services, or any other city employee who is responsible for immediately responding to an emergency incident.

2.                     “Metrocard” shall refer to the magnetic strip access cards used to gain entry to the city’s subway stations by swiping through the turnstiles. 

b.  Issuance of Metrocards

1. The city shall issue every first responder a Metrocard as a standard piece of equipment.

§3. This local law shall take effect ninety days after its enactment.

 

LS#2507

02-25-05