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New York City Council
Requiring the creation of a centralized online database and notification system for towed vehicles, and to repeal section 20-528 of such code, relating to notification of a towed vehicle to a local police precinct
Read summaries and jump into the video at the segment start.
Council staff greets attendees and calls the Committee on Public Safety vote to order. Staff asks everyone to silence electronics and refrain from approaching the dais, then invites the chair to begin.
Chair Oswald J. Feliz greets everyone and identifies himself as chair of the Committee on Public Safety. He recognizes committee members Hanks, Justin Sanchez, Gutierrez, Hankerson, Vernikov, Wong, and Banks.
Chair Feliz states that the committee will vote on Proposed Introduction 489-A, sponsored by Council Member Inna Vernikov. He identifies the bill as the item of business before the committee.
Chair Feliz says the bill would require the city to create and maintain a centralized online database for vehicles towed from public or private property by city or licensed private tow operators. He explains it would replace confusing existing procedures where owners search competing databases or call local police precincts.
Chair Feliz outlines the database's opt-in notification system that would alert vehicle owners when their vehicle information is entered into the towing database. He urges colleagues to support the common-sense legislation and invites Council Member Ina Vernikov to say a few words on her bill.
Council Member Inna Vernikov thanks Chair Feliz and Public Safety Committee members for their patience and support. She says the bill is the result of bipartisan cooperation, many meetings, and work with agencies and towing businesses.
Vernikov explains that Intro 489-A would create one centralized online database allowing the public to search for any vehicle moved or towed by a city entity or licensed private tow operator. She says it replaces an old, non-functional system that forced owners to search multiple databases or call precincts.
Vernikov describes the database's optional notification function that would alert vehicle owners if their vehicle was moved or towed. She says this will save New Yorkers time, hassle, and money in difficult cases.
Vernikov thanks Speaker Menon, Chair Feliz, Public Safety Committee members, NYPD, DCWP, Department of Finance, and other agencies involved. She also credits Senior Legislative Attorney Josh Kingsley, Peter Spencer, Troy Olson, and members of the public and towing industry who provided input.
Chair Feliz thanks Council Member Vernikov for her remarks. He then turns the meeting over to the committee clerk to conduct the vote.
Committee Clerk William Martin greets the committee and announces a roll-call vote on Proposed Introduction 489-A. He begins calling members by name.
The clerk calls Chair Feliz, Gutierrez, Hanks, and Nurse; Feliz, Gutierrez, and Hanks vote aye. Banks is then called and votes aye while congratulating the bill's sponsor.
As the clerk reaches Hankerson in the roll call, Chair Feliz interrupts to say he loves Vernikov's bill and needed it two years ago. He thanks her for working on the legislation.
The clerk resumes the roll call and calls Justin Sanchez and Wong, who vote aye. Ariola is also called before the clerk announces the tally.
The clerk reports a vote of seven in the affirmative, zero in the negative, and no abstentions. He declares that Intro 489-A has been adopted by the Committee on Public Safety.
Chair Feliz thanks everyone and congratulates Council Member Vernikov on the bill's adoption. He recounts waking up about a year ago to find his car had disappeared and says he had no idea where it went, so he appreciates the legislation.
Chair Feliz says he will hold the vote open for a few minutes. Staff notes that a few council members will join.
After the pause, Chair Feliz thanks everyone and says the bill passes unanimously. He declares the vote closed.