Inaugural class was taught by Gary Kelly, Technical Lieutenant of the Sexual Assaults Campus Division and Amber Alert Coordinator for the New York State Police
LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., JUNE 15, 2016 The Black Car Fund (BCF) provides workers' injury
compensation insurance to approximately 45,000 black car and limousine drivers who operate in New York State and are affiliated with BCF member companies.
The Black Car Fund has added AMBER Alert system driver training to the STEP Wellness, Safety & Education Program classes it provides to those drivers in its Long Island City, Queens Safety and Wellness Center.
The inaugural AMBER Alert class was taught at 10:45 AM on June 15, 2016 at the Black Car Safety Center, 38-38 Crescent Street, Long Island City, NY, by Gary Kelly, Technical Lieutenant of the Sexual Assault Campus Division and AMBER Alert Coordinator for the New York State Police.
By offering training in safe observational and reporting methods, the BCF hopes that drivers will act as additional eyes and ears to the police community. In so doing, they will assist the law enforcement community in finding lost and taken children when time is of the essence.
STEP trainers will utilize the AMBER Alert System Driver Training presentation guide prepared and provided by the New York State Police.
Modeled after the successful Texas program, the New York State AMBER (America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Alert Plan is a voluntary partnership between law enforcement, broadcasters and others to immediately involve the public, especially motorists, in the search for an abducted child.
The training enhancement is the brainchild of Black Car Fund Executive Director Ira Goldstein. His long history with the AMBER Alert program dates back to mid-2007 when he introduced AMBER Alerts into the yellow taxi fleet system through the new taxi technology systems ("TPEP").
While serving as the Chief of Staff to a former Taxi and Limousine Commission Chair, Goldstein was recognized in 2010 by the New York State Broadcasters Association and the New York State Amber Alert Partners for “outstanding community service” for his effective advocacy.
"Then as now, I'm proud to be involved with the AMBER Alert program," said Goldstein. "When it comes to protecting children, this is the most important public service in which our drivers, or any drivers, can participate."
The Black Car Fund's AMBER Alert driver training initiative earned praise from a multitude of high ranking government officials. This included NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission (TLC) Commissioner and Chair Meera Joshi and Ydanis Rodriguez, Chairman of the City Council's Transportation Committee, just to name a few.
Said Taxi and Limousine Commissioner Meera Joshi, "I want to congratulate the Black Car Fund for its forward thinking civic mindedness in incorporating AMBER Alert training into its Safety & Wellness education program," said Joshi.
"The importance of pulling together to protect children could never be overstated." Added Rodriguez, "It's great to see the Black Car Fund stepping up as a leader in protecting our city's children. When a child goes missing, having the eyes and ears of the thousands of drivers affiliated with the BCF at attention will be a boon to concerned parents and residents. I'm pleased that the Black Car Fund is starting this initiative as a good corporate citizen and their work should be seen as a model for others to get involved."
New York State Police Superintendent Joseph D'Amico said, "We applaud the Black Car Fund for adding AMBER Alert training to the classes they provide. This is an important community service that could help enhance the efforts of law enforcement to locate a missing child when an AMBER Alert is issued."
Jim Conigliaro, Jr, Founder of the Independent Drivers Guild and Assistant Director and General Counsel of IAMAW District 15 said, “Black car drivers, including Uber drivers, are uniquely positioned to assist law enforcement in the search for and the safe recovery of abducted children. Engaging drivers in the Amber Alert system is an important step toward making our community safer and I applaud the Black Car Fund for creating this course. The Machinists are proud to host this valuable course and the Independent Drivers Guild will encourage New York Uber drivers to attend this excellent addition to our range of driver courses."
“We all need to work together to ensure our streets and roads are safe", said Councilman I. Daneek Miller. "The AMBER Alert System being introduced by the Black Car Fund will put more eyes on the road for residents, so when there are accidents or unusual occurrences happen, the proper authorities can be notified immediately. I congratulate the Black Car Fund for implementing this program and look forward to seeing It come to fruition."
Other segments of the center's wildly popular class include:
The Black Car Fund introduced AMBER Alert training into the standard curriculum at the Black Car Safety Center in Long Island City. The new segment is part of our Wellness Class where drivers earn, in additional to valuable and potentially life saving training, $150.00.
Classes are limited each Wednesday to 30 drivers who may attend once yearly for a $150 incentivizing stipend. Reflecting the BCF’s commitment to safety, the center pays drivers an additional $300 for the successful completion of a defensive driving course.
