Suffolk County executive Ed Romaine signed a bill for Consumer Protection for Fire Victims on Oct. 1. Romaine was accompanied by Suffolk County district representative Dominick Thorne and others such as the Patchogue Fire Department, which came out in support of the bill.
The goal of the bill is to try and stop, as Romaine put it, “those trying to make a quick buck off of someone’s misery,” such as board-up companies posing as the fire department to sneak into a fire scene.
From now on, the board-up companies will have to identify themselves before entering the scene. They also will have to clearly state that they are not a government agency. This ultimately will protect Suffolk County citizens from being exploited when they are struggling.
Fines of up to $5,000 or even jail time is a potential punishment for offenders.
The North Patchogue Fire Department came out in support of the bill, and will help protect those that they are fighting for. County clerk Vincent Puleo said it well, as he was “glad to be here to protect Suffolk County residents.”
