BILL NUMBER: S5763

SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the criminal procedure law, in relation to designating
certain traffic enforcement agents as peace officers

 
PURPOSE:

Designates certain traffic enforcement agents as peace officers.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends section 2.10 of the Criminal Procedure Law by adding a
new subdivision 27-a providing that all agents employed by the City of
New York police department in the titles of traffic enforcement agent I
and traffic enforcement agent II; provided, however, that nothing in
this subdivision shall be deemed to authorize any such agent to carry,
possess, repair or dispose of a firearm unless the appropriate license
therefor has been issued pursuant to section 400.00 of the penal law.

              

Section 2 provides that the act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

NYC Traffic Enforcement Officers Level 1 (TEAls) enforce Parking Rules
and Regulations in NYC. NYC Traffic Enforcement Officers Level 2 (TEA2s)
direct traffic at intersections and in heavily trafficked areas, enforc-
ing New York City's Vehicle and Traffic Law.

In both positions, TEAs come face to face with New Yorkers who are angry
about being told what the law is, who are angry about being given
summonses for violating the law, and who are angry about being told
where and when to drive their cars. In the calendar year 2024, over 100
TEAs were assaulted on the job by those they were dealing with. Even
those who are assaulted have no power to take action against those who
are attacking them. If they witness a crime, despite being in NYPD
uniforms, they have no power to take any action other than calling 911.

Section 2.10 of the Criminal Procedure Law names those who currently
hold peace officer status: employees of the Department of Taxation;
Employees of the New York City Department of Finance assigned to
enforcement of the tax on cigarettes; Confidential Investigators and
Inspectors, as designated by the Commissioner of the Department of Agri-
culture and Markets; Officers or agents of a duly incorporated society
for the prevention of cruelty to animals; Inspectors and Officers of the
New York City Department of Health; Bay Constable of the City of Rye;
Harbor Masters appointed by a county, city, town or village; Court
Clerks of the Unified Court System; all Officers and Members of the
uniformed force of the New York City Fire Department; Investigators of
the Department of Motor Vehicles; a City Marshall of the City of New
York; Special Investigators appointed by the State Board of Elections;
Investigators appointed by the State Liquor Authority.

There should be little doubt that uniformed TEAS, who the public looks
to as NYC Police Officers, and who face the public every day, all day,
far more than most of the titles listed above, should have the Peace
Officer status that these employees have.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.