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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                             OCTOBER 18, 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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