A Permit To Own Air Testing Devices? NYC Considers the Idea
posted by Deven Desai
The Village Voice reports that New York City wants to require permits for any testing devices because of a fear of false alarms. So one can no longer be the odd person who knows anthrax is in the air and tries to test for it. All such devices including those that test for “industrial pollutants to asbestos in shoddy apartments” or even geiger counters are covered. After all there is a danger: “There are currently no guidelines regulating the private acquisition of biological, chemical, and radiological detectors,” warned Falkenrath (”NYPD’s deputy commissioner for counterterrorism”), adding that this law was suggested by officials within the Department of Homeland Security. AHHHH!! No guidelines on how to use a testing device? The horror. It is worse than you thought: “There are no consistent standards for the type of detectors used, no requirement that they be reported to the police department—or anyone else, for that matter—and no mechanism for coordinating these devices.” Right we need a centralized sophisticated system for these things.
Now the supposed claim is that the move will prevent false alarms. Yet the Voice states that false alarms have not occurred. This move is preventative. Of course little things like the independent testers who revealed Ground Zero was not safe after the EPA said it was, those who test schools and other areas for asthma causing materials, and oh “Dozens of university researchers, public-health professionals, and environmental lawyers” at the hearing who need to use such devices seemed to matter little to those behind the proposal who said that yes independent testers would have to be put in jail if they lacked a permit. The ban makes it illegal to possess such a unit.
The hearing at least made the council reconsider. They are redrafting the bill. The idea seems silly. It should not go further. Even when false alarms were an issue with home alarms a fine seemed to address that problem. So if someone thinks something is amiss, maybe they should try and verify it. IF numerous false positives do occur (remember years after Sept. 11 and the facts do not show this problem), then set up a fine system. Oh and don’t call if you smell what you think is a gas leak. Your nose lacks “guidelines regulating” it, and you may be wrong.
Image: WikiCommons
January 28, 2008 at 1:29 pm
Posted in: Politics
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