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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline OCTOBER 11, 2024 | The Indian Eye 26

NYC Mayor & Speaker Announce New

Enforcement Powers to Prevent Sale of

Dangerous, Uncertified Lithium-Ion Batteries

Strengthened Regulations Now Allow City to Shut Down Repeat Violators Who Prioritize Profits

Over Public Safety; Officials Remind New Yorkers to Only Purchase Certified Batteries and Devices

OUR BUREAU

NEW YORK, NY
ew York City Mayor Eric Ad-
ams, New York City Coun-
Ncil Speaker Adrienne Ad-
ams, New York City Department of
Consumer and Worker Protection
(DCWP) Commissioner Vilda Vera
Mayuga, and the Fire Department of
the City of New York (FDNY) Com-
missioner Robert S. Tucker today
announced expanded regulations to
protect New Yorkers from the dan-
gers of uncertified lithium-ion batter-
ies. Through Local Laws 49 and 50 of
2024 — sponsored by New York City
Councilmember Gale Brewer — that
recently took effect, the city now has
the authority to padlock — or close —
any brick-and-mortar retailer that re-
peatedly violates the city’s regulations nificant fire risks, and have caused ensure these unsafe devices can’t en- our first responders.”
on the sale of uncertified batteries and deadly fires across our city, making ter our city.” In January 2024, the Adams ad-
battery-powered micromobility de- it critical that we do our part in miti- “Recklessly, repeatedly selling ministration testified before the New
vices. Local Law 39, which originally gating preventable death and injury,” uncertified lithium-ion batteries is York City Council Committee on
took effect in September 2023, man- said Speaker Adams. “As battery-pow- criminal, and a critical threat to pub- Consumer and Worker Protection in
dates that all battery-powered micro- ered devices such as e-bikes become a lic safety,” said FDNY Commissioner support of legislation to strengthen
mobility devices — including electric mainstay in New York City, especially Tucker. “We thank the mayor and our and expand enforcement capabilities
bicycles, electric scooters, and the relied on by delivery workers, the New partners at DCWP for their leader- outlined in Local Law 39 of 2023. Lo-
batteries those devices use — must be York City Council continues to work ship on this issue. We will continue cal Laws 49 and 50 are a result of the
certified to accredited lab safety stan- with the administration to ensure to use all means possible to seek out ongoing collaborative efforts to curb
dards as set forth by local law to be those who use these micromobility de- the bad actors and ensure the safety lithium-ion battery fires between the
sold or rented in New York City. vices can do so safely and responsibly. of New Yorkers against the threat of Council and the administration, and
“The data is clear: Unsafe, un- The New York City Council has passed these uncertified batteries.” give the FDNY concurrent authority
certified batteries pose a real threat to multiple laws regulating the licensing “The dangers associated with to also enforce the certification law.
New Yorkers and their property, and and sales of lithium-ion batteries, de- poorly manufactured lithium-ion bat- In addition to the authority to close
this administration will continue to do livering safety to our neighborhood. I teries are clear, which is why the city repeat violators, the maximum pen-
everything that it can to enforce the thank our partners in government for must consider all enforcement op- alty for violating the certification re-
law to keep residents safe,” said Mayor their work to enact these laws because tions to protect our fellow New York- quirements will increase to as much
Adams. “We know that e-micromobili- we must work together to promote the ers,” said New York City Department as $2,000 per device type. The new
ty is a critical tool that many New York- safety of all New Yorkers.” of Buildings Commissioner James laws also require retailers — including
ers use for work and pleasure. But the “We are committed to protecting Oddo. “This administration has been those online — to publicly display the
fact of the matter is that the fires and consumers and building a culture of making significant progress advancing city’s new fire safety disclosure sign
deaths caused by these devices are pre- compliance among our local business- building and fire safety in the five bor- to help consumers understand certi-
ventable and we need everyone to play es, but we need retailers to understand oughs, from setting up a new proactive fication and how to safely store and
their part in ensuring their safety, and that this is an urgent safety issue, and inspection program for structurally charge battery-powered micromobili-
the safety of their families, their neigh- we will not hesitate to use all of the unsafe buildings to taking real action ty devices. The safety disclosure sign,
bors, and our first responders. We tools in our toolbox to protect our to get dangerous uncertified e-bike which is available in multiple languag-
thank our partners in government for neighbors,” said DCWP Commission- batteries out of our homes. This latest es, will also be distributed to educate
collaborating on this important public er Vera Mayuga. “Thank you to our announcement sends a message that consumers. The law additionally man-
safety issue as we work to keep micro- partners at FDNY for their continued we aren’t going to allow unscrupulous dates that online retailers must post
mobility devices safe for everyone.” collaboration and for their advocacy business owners to continue endan- certification information on the prod-
“Lithium-ion batteries pose sig- at the federal level for a national fix to gering residents, their neighbors, or uct page.

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