New Law Mandates That Carriers Limit or Disable Service on Stolen Cell Phones
Photo by Tracy LeBlanc
Dec. 3, 2024: Assemblymember Amy Paulin (D-Westchester) announced that Governor Kathy Hochul has signed into law legislation she authored which mandates cell phone carriers limit or disable service to stolen cell phones.
This new law requires that cell phone carriers maintain a program to prevent the activation of a cell phone which appears on the GSMA Block List, a global registry of lost, stolen, fraudulent or broken devices. When a carrier is notified by a retail store selling new phones or by a verified customer that a phone has been stolen, the carrier is required to suspend or prevent the activation of the device.
"Any robbery has the potential to turn into something violent, which we saw in New York City, where Detective Brian Simonsen was tragically killed during a cell phone store robbery," said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. "We need to keep our officers and residents safe, and this is a commonsense step in that direction. If robbers know they won't be able to use the phones they steal, there's no reason to steal them."
"Detective Brian Simonsen's Law is named in honor of Detective Brian Simonsen, who tragically lost his life while responding to an armed robbery call at a cell phone store in Queens," said Senator Scarcella-Spanton. "The NYPD puts their lives at risk every day to protect and serve our community.
Unfortunately, our officers too often make the ultimate sacrifice, as criminals repeatedly endanger people for financial gain, whether by targeting innocent retail workers or individuals on the street. I'm proud to sponsor this legislation to better regulate the resale of stolen goods and help prevent further tragedies caused by criminals profiting from illegal activities. Thank you to Governor Hochul for signing my bill into law and to Paul DiGiacomo, Scott Munro, and the DEA for their advocacy."
"Detective Brian Simonsen is a New York hero," said Assemblyman Matt Slater. "This legislation, named in his memory, will be pivotal in assisting law enforcement's efforts to crack down on the cell phone black market. I appreciate the efforts of all our partners, especially the NYPD's Detective Endowment Agency and Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, in getting this legislation enacted."
"Cell phone carriers have the power to limit or disable services to stolen phones and this new law will require them to do so," said Assemblywoman Amy Paulin. "I thank Governor Hochul for taking this step to help prevent crime before it happens and keep New Yorkers safe."
Government & History Directory
Bronxville is a quaint village (one square mile) located just 16 miles north of midtown Manhattan (roughly 30 minutes on the train) and has a population of approximately 6,500. It is known as a premier community with an excellent public school (K-12) and easy access to Manhattan. Bronxville offers many amenities including an attractive business district, a hospital (Lawrence Hospital), public paddle and tennis courts, fine dining at local restaurants, two private country clubs and a community library.
While the earliest settlers of Bronxville date back to the first half of the 18th century, the history of the modern suburb of Bronxville began in 1890 when William Van Duzer Lawrence purchased a farm and commissioned the architect, William A. Bates, to design a planned community of houses for well-known artists and professionals that became a thriving art colony. This community, now called Lawrence Park, is listed on the National register of Historic Places and many of the homes still have artists’ studios. A neighborhood association within Lawrence Park called “The Hilltop Association” keeps this heritage alive with art shows and other events for neighbors.
Bronxville offers many charming neighborhoods as well as a variety of living options for residents including single family homes, town houses, cooperatives and condominiums. One of the chief benefits of living in “the village” is that your children can attend the Bronxville School.
The Bronxville postal zone (10708, known as “Bronxville PO”) includes the village of Bronxville as well as the Chester Heights section of Eastchester, parts of Tuckahoe and the Lawrence Park West, Cedar Knolls, Armour Villa and Longvale sections of Yonkers. Many of these areas have their own distinct character. For instance, the Armour Villa section has many historic homes and even has its own newsletter called “The Villa Voice” which reports on neighborhood news.
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