Speaker Menin questions retailer accountability for illegal devices
Menin asks what the administration is doing about noncompliant retailers selling illegal devices, and DCWP describes inspections, summonses, and sealing orders.
Moving along to retailer accountability and illegal high-speed devices.
So the council did an investigation regarding retailers and found that New Yorkers can still readily find and purchase illegal micromobility devices, both through brick and mortar retailers and online.
What is the administration doing around noncompliance with our laws by those retailers?
Well, thank you, Madam Speaker.
I'm happy to start, and then I imagine Commissioner Flynn will want to jump in, too, given their efforts on online enforcement.
With respect to on-the-street enforcement, I'm pleased to report that just this last September we completed 276 inspections.
The results are encouraging.
The number of unique businesses inspected in 2026 is about up already 50% from where we were in 2025.
The number of locations with the violations are down.
The number of locations in compliance are up.
None of this is to say we have solved the problem or that we don't have more work to do.
We absolutely do.
But our strategy of proactive compliance sweeps, paired with the possibility that these businesses can actually face ceiling orders, eight of which we've issued, some of which we then rescinded.
after the
businesses came into compliance, I think demonstrate that we are making progress in effectively enforcing local laws 39 and 49.
Speaker, I would also add that of the 53 businesses we found not to be in compliance during the most recent sweep, 13 have already moved back into compliance and the other 40 are scheduled for re-inspection as soon as possible.
And how does the 276 inspections compare to the last couple years?
Let me see.
I believe in 2025, we were at 192.
In 2024, we were at 317.
That was a little bit of a wild west in 2024.
Again, we're going to hit more before the end of the year, but I am encouraged by the trends we are seeing.
Obviously, we still have a lot of work to do.
Okay, I have a lot more questions, but I want to be respectful.
We've got a lot of colleagues that want to ask questions.
I'm going to save the rest of mine for second round and turn it back over to Chair Abreu.