Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Sunday, March 14, 1999

Release #092-99

Contact: Colleen Roche/Matthew Higgins (212) 788-2958
Shonna Keogan - Consumer Affairs (212) 487-4283


MAYOR GIULIANI AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS COMMISSIONER JULES POLONETSKY RELEASE RESULTS OF UNDERCOVER BOX CUTTER INITIATIVE

25% of Businesses Surveyed Fined for Making Illegal Box Cutter Sales During DCA Sweep

As part of an ongoing effort to prevent illegal box cutter sales, the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) issued violations to over a dozen businesses for selling box cutters to minors during an enforcement sweep, Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jules Polonetsky announced today.

Consumer Affairs inspectors cited 13 businesses for making illegal box cutter sales and also issued violations to stores which openly displayed these potential weapons. From February 13th to March 8th, the minors worked undercover with DCA inspectors and were able to purchase box cutters at 25% of the 52 stores they visited citywide.

"The safety of New Yorkers on our streets and in our schools is of paramount importance," Mayor Giuliani said. "Today's results, however, show that one in four businesses is still willing to put box cutters into the hands of young people. Although the City's box cutter violation rate has fallen for three consecutive years, it is unconscionable to sell even one of these 'weapons of choice' to underage kids."

In 1995, Local Law 80 made it a criminal misdemeanor to sell box cutters to kids under 18. In 1998, the Mayor signed Local Law 22, which raised the legal age to purchase box cutters from 18 to 21 and expanded the ban on box cutter possession from school premises to banning possession in any public place.

Department of Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jules Polonetsky said, "Since DCA began enforcing the box cutter law, citywide violation rates have fallen from 59% in February 1997 to 25% this year. While it is heartening to see a growing number of businesses refusing to sell box cutters to kids, DCA will continue its enforcement efforts by conducting undercover initiatives and educating store owners about their responsibilities under the law."

DCA's enforcement sweep included stores cited in previous enforcements and those in close proximity to schools. In addition to illegal box cutter sales, DCA inspectors also inspected how stores displayed their box cutters and cited two businesses which had box cutters displayed openly and in locations not easily observable by store employees. To prevent theft, box cutters, by law, must be visible from the cash register.

DCA's undercover enforcement initiative produced the following results:

1999 DCA Box Cutter Enforcement

Borough

Stores Surveyed

Illegal Sale

% Sales

Illegal Display

Brooklyn

9

1

11%

0

Queens

13

3

23%

1

Bronx

9

5

56%

0

Staten Island

4

0

0%

1

Manhattan

17

4

24%

0

Citywide Totals

52

13

25%

2



Of the 13 businesses cited for illegal box cutter sales, the Sears store, located at 400 East Fordham Road in the Bronx, was the only repeat offender, cited for an illegal box cutter sale in February 1998.

"Enforcement initiatives have helped reduce illegal box cutter sales by nearly 60% since 1997, but while businesses are making progress in complying with the City's box cutter law, it is still too easy for underage kids to purchase these weapons. We will continue to vigilantly enforce the law," the Mayor said.

"In addition to enforcement action, DCA also educates businesses about the box cutter law. Last summer, volunteers handed out DCA "Box Cutter Alert" flyers which merchants were encouraged to post in their stores to educate employees and consumers alike. These signs are also available in DCA's Licensing Center which issues over 100,000 DCA and Department of Health licenses," Commissioner Polonetsky said.

DCA added its civil enforcement efforts to the campaign against box cutter sales by adopting an agency rule declaring the sale of box cutters to minors an "unconscionable trade practice." Violations carry fines of up to $350 for the first violation and $500 for recidivists. The most recent box cutter enforcement initiative was the fourth since 1997.

To report a store in violation of the City's box cutter law, consumers can notify the Department of Consumer Affairs by calling its Consumer Hotline at 212-487-4444 or 718-286-2990 or by visiting the DCA website at www.ci.nyc.ny.us/consumers.

www.ci.nyc.ny.us


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