What's happening
This bill requires state and local law enforcement officers to identify themselves and provide a business card during most interactions with the public.
Why it matters
Increases police accountability and transparency. by requiring officers to state their full name, rank, command, and the specific reason for any law enforcement activity—even for routine stops or questioning, not just during arrests.
Empowers the public with concrete information. Officers must provide a business card with identification and a complaint/comment phone number after most interactions, making it easier for the public to report concerns or provide feedback on police encounters.
Covers a wide range of police interactions. including traffic stops, pedestrian stops, searches, and questioning of witnesses or victims—not just suspects—broadening protections to more people and situations.
Includes safety and investigative exceptions. The identification requirement is waived if the officer is undercover or if revealing their identity would jeopardize public or officer safety, or an ongoing investigation, balancing transparency with operational needs.
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Who cares
State and local law enforcement officers
Officers would have to give their full name, rank, command and specific reason for covered encounters, with an exception for nonuniformed officers when identification would compromise immediate safety or seriously compromise a specific, ongoing investigation.
People stopped, questioned or searched by police
They would receive an officer’s business card with contact information for comments or complaints when an encounter ends without an arrest or summons.
Crime victims and witnesses
Officers contacting potential victims and witnesses would also have to identify themselves and explain the specific reason for the encounter.
State and local police agencies
Agencies would need to ensure officers have business cards listing their name, rank, command and a phone number for submitting comments or complaints.
Headline styles
Make Police Show ID
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Require Police to Identify Themselves
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Luis R. Sepúlveda
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3231
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. BICHOTTE, MOSLEY, BARRON, ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring state and local law enforcement officers to identify themselves to the public
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Declaration of legislative intent and findings. The legislature finds that the people of the state of New York are in great debt to the hard work and dedication of police officers in their daily duties. The legislature further finds that mistrust of law enforcement officers based on real or perceived discrimination hinders law enforcement efforts and is a threat to public safety. New York state and local police policy already requires that officers wear shields and nameplates at all times while in uniform, and that they provide their rank, name, shield number and command when asked.
In adopting this act, it is the intent of the legislature to increase transparency in police practices and to build trust between police officers and members of the public by providing the public with notice of the reasons behind their encounters with the police, and a written record of their interactions with the police in situations that do not result in an arrest or summons.
§ 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 233 to read as follows:
§ 233. Identification of law enforcement officers. 1. As used in this article the following words shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Law enforcement activity" shall mean any of the following activities when conducted by law enforcement officers:
(i) noncustodial questioning of individuals;
(ii) pedestrian stops;
(iii) frisks;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00184-01-9
A. 3231 2
(iv) searches of individuals' persons, property, or possessions (including vehicles);
(v) traffic stops;
(vi) roadblock or checkpoint stops;
(vii) home searches; and
(viii) contact with potential victims of and witnesses to crimes.
(b) "Noncustodial questioning" shall mean both the routine, investigatory questioning of individuals and the questioning of suspects where such individuals or suspects have not been detained and are free to end the encounter at will.
2. Upon initiation of law enforcement activity, state and local law enforcement officers shall:
(a) Identify themselves to the subject or subjects of the law enforcement activity by providing their full name, rank and command; and
(b) Provide the specific reason for the law enforcement activity.
(c) At the conclusion of law enforcement activity that does not result in an arrest or summons, the subject or subjects of the law enforcement activity shall be provided with the law enforcement officer's business card, which shall include, at a minimum the name, rank, command of the officer and a phone number that the subject of the law enforcement activity may use to submit comments or complaints about the encounter.
3. Subdivision two of this section shall not apply where a law enforcement officer is not in uniform and identification of the officer would compromise the immediate safety of the public or law enforcement officers or would seriously compromise a specific, ongoing law enforcement investigation.
§ 3. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.