NYPD ‘Right to Know’ Act Takes Effect

The “Right to Know” Act has taken effect in New York starting Friday, as police officers will be required to provide full identifying information to people they stop on the street, ABC7 reports.

The Act will require police officers to share their name and rank, and inform people of their right to refuse some searches. Officers will also have to hand out business cards, which contain information on how to file a complaint against an officer and how to obtain body-camera video of the interaction.

Advocates are hailing the law as an important step in police accountability. But the police union chief is criticizing it.

“As we’ve said from the beginning, the ‘Right to Know’ laws will discourage police officers from proactively addressing crime and disorder and will lead to more frivolous complaints,” said Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch. “The City Council has continuously piled on new burdens and second-guessing for our police officers, creating unnecessary distractions for them that will ultimately make NYC a more dangerous place.”