Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Tuesday, October 12, 1999

Release #402-99

Contact: Sunny Mindel/Brenda Pérez (212) 788-2958
Sandra Mullin, DOH (212) 788-5290


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

Enforcement Sweep Shows Continuing Trend of Businesses Complying With City's Underage Box Cutter Law

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani Giuliani and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Jules Polonetsky announced today that 13 percent of the businesses inspected during a recent enforcement sweep were cited for illegally selling box cutters to people under the age of 21. The number of businesses cited for violating the law continues to declined, from 59 percent in 1997 to 23 percent in February 1999.

Consumer Affairs inspectors visited 44 stores during the enforcement sweep and 6 businesses were cited for making illegal box cutter sales. As part of the enforcement effort, minors worked undercover with DCA inspectors and were able to purchase box cutters at 13 percent of the 44 stores they visited citywide. Violations carry fines of up to $350 for the first violation and $500 for repeat offenders.

"Although not a single box cutter should be sold to a minor, with each successive DCA enforcement sweep, more and more businesses are complying with the law," the Mayor said. "Local Law 22, which makes it illegal to sell box cutters to anyone under 21, has been instrumental in removing dangerous weapons from our streets. Businesses that sell box cutters should be on notice that Consumer Affairs will continue aggressively enforcing this law to bring about 100 percent compliance and that violations carry steep penalties."

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 13% this year. I am encouraged by the steadily declining number of business owners who flout this important law by selling box cutters to people under 21. However, DCA's ultimate objective is to obtain full compliance with the law. We will continue to conduct undercover initiatives and educate 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. To prevent theft, box cutters, by law, must be visible from the cash register. None of the stores inspected had box cutters displayed in violation of the law.

DCA's undercover enforcement initiative produced the following results:

1999 DCA Box Cutter Enforcement
Borough
Stores Surveyed
Illegal Sale
% Sales
Illegal Display
Brooklyn
8
1
12.5%
0
Queens
12
1
8%
0
Bronx
6
2
33%
0
Staten Island
4
0
0%
0
Manhattan
14
2
14%
0
Citywide Totals
44
6
13%
0


Commissioner Polonetsky said, "In addition to enforcement action, DCA also educates businesses about the box cutter law. Volunteers regularly hand out DCA "Box Cutter Alert" flyers which merchants are 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."

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." 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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