Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee Chair Jeffrey Dinowitz today announced the passage of legislation to ban novelty lighters, which have been linked to fires that injured or killed children.

"These lighters may appear harmless because they look like toys, but in reality they are flame- producing devices that children like to play with," said Silver. "This is a combination that spells disaster, and it must be eliminated. Our bill would prohibit the sale of these lethal items. They are a public safety hazard and a threat to the lives of children."

"This common-sense legislation will undoubtedly prevent injuries of young children and perhaps even save lives," said Dinowitz. "The fact that firefighters from throughout the state and even certain manufacturers of lighters support this legislation makes it clear that there is a strong consensus that there is no place for novelty lighters in New York. I am pleased that the Assembly passed my legislation, and I look forward to the governor signing it into law."

According to the publication Fire Chief, novelty lighters have been identified as the cause of fatal fires throughout the nation, including the September 2007 tragedy in Arkansas when two young boys lost their lives in a fire they accidentally set while playing with a lighter that looked like a toy motorcycle.

The bill (A.1011-A) would immediately ban the retail sale of novelty lighters, which are frequently equipped with musical sounds and flashing lights that are shaped to look like miniature toys, such as automobiles, tractors or popular cartoon characters. The measure first passed the Assembly last year and a similar prohibition has been enacted by 11 other states, including neighboring Massachusetts and New Jersey, as well as the European Union.

To ensure that novelty lighters stay off store shelves and out of the hands of children, the bill includes several provisions that would:

• authorize law enforcement agencies to seize banned lighters;
• impose penalties on offenders; and
• establish a toll-free telephone hotline number to accept reports of possible violations.

The legislation is also supported by many firefighting organizations and consumer advocates, including, the Firemen's Association of the State of New York, New York City Fire Department, New York Public Interest Research Group and Clean & Healthy New York, all of whom have called for the ban on these novelty lighters to protect children and prevent fires.