NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A3656
SPONSOR: Durso TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to creating the crime of
unlawful possession of a radio frequency jamming device
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Creates the crime of unlawful possession of a radio frequency jamming
device.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 270.45 to
read as follows:
§ 270.45 Unlawful possession of a radio frequency, jamming device. A
person is guilty of unlawful possession of a radio frequency jamming
device when, having no right to do so, they knowingly possess a device
capable of disrupting and/or interfering with wireless communications
through radio noise or signals. Unlawful possession of a radio frequency
jamming device Is a class D felony.
JUSTIFICATION:
Radio frequency jamming devices, such as phone jammers, GPS blockers, or
other signal jamming devices, pose a significant danger to public safety
by preventing individuals from calling 971-1 or other emergency services
as well as interfering with police radar and GPS (Global Positioning
Systems). Signal jamming equipment can also have serious implications on
our national security from threats both foreign and domestic.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2024: A4523 Referred to Codes
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3656
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DURSO -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to creating the crime of
unlawful possession of a radio frequency jamming device
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 270.45 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 270.45 Unlawful possession of a radio frequency jamming device.
4 A person is guilty of unlawful possession of a radio frequency jamming
5 device when, having no right to do so, they knowingly possess a device
6 capable of disrupting and/or interfering with wireless communications
7 through radio noise or signals.
8 Unlawful possession of a radio frequency jamming device is a class D
9 felony.
10 § 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
11 have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02463-01-5
