On Thursday, June 10, the City Council Environmental Protection Committee held a public hearing on Int. 81, a proposed bill to ban only the sale and installation of new car alarm sirens. Though the council's intentions were noble, Int. 81 will not stop car alarm noise. Under Int. 81, sirens could continue to blare as long as they were installed outside of New York City. Since most New York drivers buy their cars outside of the five boroughs, and have alarms fitted at the dealer, very few cars would be affected by this law. And all of the existing alarms would continue to blare.

A real solution would require a ban on the use of car alarms. Such a ban could be simply and practically enforced. Police could ticket without hesitation; drivers could comply without confusion; and citizens could apply the social pressure that has made "pooper-scooper" laws effective.

At the hearing, representatives from BMW, Daimler-Chrysler and Toyota/Lexus confirmed Transportation Alternatives' independent analysis based on car owner manuals and interviews with car manufacturers and alarm installers that it is easy for car owners to switch off their car alarms while parked on New York City streets. Nearly every car alarm can be deactivated through a valet procedure, active arming, or simply by not using the power locks and locking their car doors manually. Says Kit Hodge, Transportation Alternatives' Campaign Coordinator:

"Given the City Council's overwhelming consensus that audible car alarms don't work and their recognition that car alarms are one of the top quality of life complaints in New York City, it is surprising that the Council will not ask a few New Yorkers to lock their doors manually in exchange for a good night's sleep."

A ban on the use of car alarms is still reasonable for the owners of the very few cars that come with alarms that can't be easily deactivated, since the drivers will only be subject to a fine if their alarm goes off; which, on a properly functioning alarm, is supposed to happen only when a thief is tampering with the car. If an alarm truly is working properly, its owner ought to be willing to run the risk of a ticket, if it means alerting the attention of the police in such a case.

We understand that the Mayor's noise code revisions call for the creation of a study on the feasibility of banning car alarms. Transportation Alternatives supports this effort, and we will support any proposal from the Council for a full ban on car alarms.

Website: http://www.bancaralarms.org