Florida was the first state to pass a law giving local authorities some powers to shut down unlicensed radio stations, and New Jersey followed. Now the New York State Broadcasters Association is urging passage of a similar law (Assembly A326, Senate S2737). WVOX/WVIP, New Rochelle owner Bill O'Shaughnessy says the problems aren't only interference with established and licensed stations and problems with EAS and Amber Alerts, but with potential violence and gangs. He says "In one memorable confrontation, a Cadillac Escalade with four ‘thugs’ came up alongside the FCC agent’s vehicle and said ominously, ‘I don’t think you want to go in there.’” The agent didn't. The FCC has relatively few staffers and its procedures leading to a shutdown can take months. While Florida has been able to get local law enforcement to act very quickly on complaints in areas like South Florida. New York City boroughs such as Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx have long been hotbeds of unlicensed radio activity, and now O'Shaughnessy says the problem has "spread to upstate communities." The New York Board of Radio-Info.com is talking about the situation here.