New York City Council member Linda Lee has begun to prepare regulations to strengthen vehicle theft prevention. The ‘Int 0610’ ordinance proposed by Rep. Lee on the 7th aims to mandate the New York Police Department’s (NYPD) vehicle theft prevention program and establish a program to provide devices that help prevent vehicle theft, such as a ‘steering wheel lock’, and to provide vehicle theft prevention programs.
It contains information such as aiding with software updates to prevent easy theft. Assemblyman Lee, who serves as chair of the City Council’s Mental Health, Disability, and Addictions Committee, said, “The constant theft from vehicles has reached a level where it is impacting public safety in the community.” He added, “With the passage of the ordinance, vehicle theft prevention programs will be mandated, vehicle thefts will decrease, and public safety will be reduced.” “I hope this will provide a foundation for strengthening safety,” he said.
If enacted, the ordinance will take effect 60 days later. Meanwhile, major crimes in New York City decreased compared to the previous year in 2023, but thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles without ‘engine immobilizers’ increased rapidly.
It was reported that in 2023, thefts of Kia vehicles in New York City increased by 890%, and those of Hyundai vehicles increased by 766%.