Albany, NY - Aug 4, 2011 - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed legislation making the operation of an AM or FM radio station without a license illegal in the state of New York. Violations will be treated as a Class A misdemeanor. The new law gives local law enforcement the ability to stop illegal radio operators in New York. The law has been strongly supported by the New York State Broadcast Association.

Excerpts from the law:

Any equipment, including but not limited to the transmitting antenna, transmitter, master control, servers and computers, used to provide such illegal radio transmissions shall be subject to seizure and, upon conviction, subject to destruction.

Any equipment utilized in violation ... may be seized by any police officer upon the arrest of any individual in possession of the same. Upon final determination of the charges, the court shall, upon notice from the district attorney, enter an order preserving any transmitting antenna, transmitter, master control, servers and computers, used to provide illegal radio transmissions for use in other cases, including a civil action.

Destruction shall not include auction, sale, or distribution of the items in their original form.