§ 16-02 Press Card Access.
RCNY § 16-02
(a)A Standard Press Card holder, a Single Event Press Card holder, or a Reserve Press Card authorized user is entitled (i) subject to space limitations and safety and evidence preservation concerns, to cross police, fire lines, or other restrictions, limitations or barriers established by the City of New York at emergency, spot, or breaking news events and public events of a non-emergency nature where police, fire lines, or other restrictions, limitations, or barriers established by the City of New York have been set up for security or crowd control purposes, within the City of New York; and (ii) subject to space limitations and safety concerns, to attend events sponsored by the City of New York that are open to members of the press.
(b)When there is a denial of a Standard Press Card holder's, Single Event Press Card holder's, or Reserve Press Card authorized user's ability to cross police or fire lines, or other restrictions, limitations, or barriers established by the City of New York or attend events sponsored by the City of New York, such denial must come from an authorized person of the City agency(ies) or office(s) sponsoring the event or a supervising officer or a member of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information of the New York City Police Department ("NYPD").
(c)Upon request from an authorized person of the City agency(ies) or offices sponsoring the event or a supervising officer or a member of the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information of the NYPD, a Reserve Press Card authorized user must provide identification (i) when seeking to cross police or fire lines, or other restrictions, limitations, or barriers established by the City of New York or attend events sponsored by the City of New York; and (ii) at any time after such access has been granted.
(d)A Single Event Press Card holder who is under sixteen (16) years old: i. must be accompanied by a parent, a legal guardian, or a responsible adult who is at least eighteen (18) years old when seeking to cross police or fire lines, or other restrictions, limitations, or barriers established by the City of New York or attend events sponsored by the City of New York, and at all times after such access has been granted. Only one parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult must accompany no more than one Single Event Press Card holder who is under sixteen (16) years old to each event for which the Single Event Press Card is issued. ii. In the discretion of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment may waive this requirement for a Single Event Press Card holder who is under sixteen (16) years old taking into account the criteria listed in 43 RCNY § 16-05(e)(iv)(C); (e) A Single Event Press Card Holder who is sixteen (16) years old to eighteen (18) years old: In the discretion of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment may require, after taking into account the criteria listed in 43 RCNY § 16-05(e)(iv)(C), that the Single Event Press Card holder be accompanied by a parent, a legal guardian, or a responsible adult who is at least eighteen (18) years old when seeking to cross police or fire lines, or other restrictions, limitations, or barriers established by the City of New York or attend events sponsored by the City of New York, and at all times after such access has been granted. Only one parent, legal guardian, or responsible adult must accompany no more than one Single Event Press Card holder who is sixteen (16) years old until eighteen (18) years old to each event for which the Single Event Press Card is issued.
(f)In the discretion of the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s designee, the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment may require the person accompanying the Single Event Press Card Holder pursuant to 43 RCNY § 16-02(d) or 43 RCNY § 16-02(e) to wear a badge or other identification issued by PCU. (Added City Record 12/20/2021, eff. 1/19/2022; amended City Record 2/11/2025, eff. 3/13/2025)
