FCC Proposes $400k Fine for Illegal Use of NYPD's Radio System

The Federal Communications Commission has proposed to fine a New York City resident for apparently operating a radio transmitter on frequencies that the FCC licensed to the New York Police Department (NYPD), causing interference with the NYPD’s radio system.

Jay Peralta faces a proposed fine of $404,166 for this egregious conduct. Peralta allegedly transmitted threatening messages directed at NYPD officers. These messages included false bomb threats and false officer-in-distress calls to NYPD dispatchers. This action is a result of an investigation that began in August 2016 when a FCC employee observed a Twitter post about an unlawful intrusion on the NYPD’s radio system. The NYPD provided the FCC with a written statement by Peralta, who is currently in police custody for related charges, in which he apparently acknowledged making nine unauthorized transmissions on the NYPD’s radio system. The proposed fine details the FCC’s allegations of unlawful conduct and proposes the maximum monetary penalty permitted under the law. As with any proposed fine, Peralta has 30 days to respond to this notice. According to his statement to the NYPD, on at least one occasion, Peralta apparently made unauthorized transmissions on the NYPD’s radio system in order to distract officers while his accomplices allegedly committed a robbery.