06/12/03 Directed Testifies Against Car Alarm Ban

Directed Testifies Against NYC Car Alarm Ban Proposal

June 12, 2003 -- Vista, Calif. - Directed Electronics Inc., a vehicle security and remote start company, is taking a leadership role in the fight against a proposed ban on the sale and installation of vehicle security systems in New York City.
Directed's Legal Affairs & Intellectual Property Director K.C. Bean attended Wednesday's hearing in Manhattan's City Hall and testified before the New York City Council's Committee on Environmental Protection. Representatives from the Consumer Electronics Association and other manufacturers also testified.

"The proposed car alarm ban is misguided on a number of fronts," says K.C. Bean. "Economically, it will hurt mobile electronics retailers in New York City, who will see their business leave the city as customers purchase car alarms in surrounding areas. It will hurt consumers, who will see a resulting rise in car thefts, and who will lose their insurance discount for having a vehicle security system. And it will hurt the city itself, which will lose tax revenue. But the arguments against the ban don't stop there."

Testimony from Directed, the CEA and other manufacturers also referred to the importance of proper installation of vehicle security systems to prevent false alarms.

Then there are the electronic technologies used in the security systems themselves. Directed owns two patented technologies to prevent false alarms. These neighborhood-friendly features, called NPC (Nuisance Prevention Circuitry) and FACT (False Alarm Control Technology), take malfunctioning sensors offline while leaving the rest of the system armed.

In addition, Directed's patented 504D Stinger DoubleGuard electromagnetic shock sensor contains an ASIC chip which filters electromagnetic transients that might otherwise cause the sensor to false trigger.

"The National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends that consumers purchase as audible alarm as a valuable layer of protection against car theft," says Bean. "The insurance industry believes that car alarms work, and so do we. Directed will continue working with local New York City businesses, the CEA and other manufacturers in a grass roots effort to oppose this initiative."