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Int 0561-2024

Requiring authorized emergency vehicles to have an emergency signal device that emits pulsating, low-frequency tones.

IntroductionFiledCommittee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency and Waterfrontsintroduced 2024-03-07

Filed — closed without being enacted.

Official record · Legistar

Agenda: 2024-03-07Passed: 2025-12-31

Summary

This bill would require all authorized emergency vehicles in New York City to be equipped with an additional siren, often called a rumbler, which emits a pulsating, low-frequency tone between 175 and 400 hertz to create vibrations that alert pedestrians and motorists to the presence of the emergency vehicle.

Committee on Environmental Protection, Resiliency and WaterfrontsDepartment of Environmental Protection and Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability and Office of Recovery and Resiliency.

How it compares

10% of similar bills passed

5 passed · 45 died

This bill: 664 days in committee

Similar bills: median 574 days · 419 days when passed

Sponsors (9)

Lifecycle

IntroducedIntroduced by Council
2024-03-07 · City Council
ActionReferred to Comm by Council
2024-03-07 · City Council
ClosedFiled (End of Session)
2025-12-31 · City Council

Heard at (1)

City Council · 2024-03-07 · 1:30 PM · Council Chambers - City Hall

Attachments (5)

Full text
Be it enacted by the Council as follows: Section 1. Section 24-241 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new subdivision (c) to read as follows: (c) All authorized emergency vehicles shall be equipped with an emergency signal device that emits a pulsating, low-frequency tone between 175 and 400 hertz and can be operated simultaneously with the higher-frequency emergency signal device installed on such vehicles. Within one year after the effective date of this subdivision and every two years thereafter, emergency signal devices installed on authorized emergency vehicles shall be tested and certification shall be submitted, in a form approved by the department, that such devices meet the standard set forth in this subdivision. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, where compliance with the provisions of this subdivision would create an undue hardship, the owner or operator of an authorized emergency vehicle may submit a plan to the commissioner for emergency signal devices to meet the standard set forth in this subdivision within two years after the effective date of this subdivision. Such plan shall be submitted within one year after the effective date of this subdivision in lieu of the required certification. � 2. This local law takes effect 180 days after it becomes law. Session 13 LS#10104 1/22/2024 Session 12 APM LS#10104 11/28/2022