BILL NUMBER: S5161
SPONSOR: COMRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to directing the
metropolitan transportation authority and the New York city transit
authority to ensure proper operation of security cameras at subway
stations and issue reports thereon
 
PURPOSE:
This bill directs the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to ensure
proper operation of all security cameras in its operated subway
stations, as well as publish annual reports as to instances of failures
and the causes thereof
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends the Public Authorities Law, as it pertains to the New
York City Transit Authority, to direct the MTA to ensure proper opera-
tion of all security cameras in its operated subway stations, as well as
to publish annual reports as to instances of failures and the causes of
such failures.
Section 2 amends the Public Authorities Law, as it pertains to the
Metropolitan Transit Authority, to direct the MTA to ensure proper oper-
ation of all security cameras in its operated subway stations, as well
as to publish annual reports as to instances of failures and the causes
of such failures.
Section 3 sets forth the effective date of this act.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Right now, the New York National Guard has been activated to patrol
subways due to multiple shooting incidents on the subway. Additionally,
while the numbers of overall crime do not support the idea that the
subway is "unsafe," it certainly would provides riders a great deal of
peace of mind knowing the camera systems on the subway actually work.
This bill directs the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to make sure
every security camera is functional. Ensuring that all security cameras
in New York City's subway system are operational is essential to the
safety of customers. While it is already a goal of MTA to ensure cameras
function properly, the provisions of this bill would provide them added
responsibility in that effort. Back in 2010, Mayor Michael Bloomberg
acknowledged that "a lot of those cameras don't work" when published
reports indicated that about half of subway station security cameras
were inoperative. Where instances of injuries and fatalities on New York
City subway tracks have escalated in recent years, it is important for
security cameras to be in constant operation to collect adequate
evidence of criminal activity, and to be both preventative for possible
criminals, and ensure that folks who break our laws on the subway are
held accountable in the criminal justice system.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024- S8875 Comrie
2020- 2022- Comrie .
2018- S591 PERALTA No Same as
 
FISCAL IMPACT:
Minimal.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act will take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S5161: 1204 public authorities law, 1265 public authorities law