1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using CNY Signal (the "Service"), available at cnysignal.com, you ("User") agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms in their entirety, you must immediately discontinue use of the Service. Your continued use constitutes ongoing acceptance, including any modifications.
2. Description of Service
CNY Signal is an independent, automated public awareness aggregation service that collects, structures, and displays publicly available information concerning public safety incidents, weather events, road conditions, and utility outages in Central New York. The Service is provided solely for general informational and entertainment purposes.
CNY Signal is not a news organization under applicable law, is not affiliated with any governmental or emergency services entity, and does not employ licensed emergency services personnel.
3. Entertainment & Informational Purpose
The Service is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. Content published on CNY Signal — including incident alerts, weather summaries, newsroom articles, and community information — is not professional advice, emergency guidance, or actionable direction of any kind.
Users acknowledge that:
- Information may be delayed, inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated
- Content should not be relied upon for any life-safety, legal, medical, or financial decision
- Some content is generated or assisted by artificial intelligence and may contain errors
- Map locations are approximate estimates only, not precise addresses
- The Service is not a substitute for official emergency communications or news reporting
4. Emergency Services — Critical Notice
CNY Signal is NOT an emergency service, a 911 dispatch system, or a substitute for contacting emergency services.
The Service must never be used as a basis for making any emergency decision, including whether to call 911, respond to a scene, administer medical care, or take protective action.
If you or another person are in danger or require emergency assistance, call 911 immediately.
CNY Signal cannot dispatch emergency responders and is not monitored for emergency communications. Do not contact CNY Signal in an emergency — we cannot help.
5. Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. CNY Signal and its owners, operators, affiliates, contractors, and licensors (collectively, "CNY Signal Parties") expressly disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to:
- Warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement
- Warranties that the Service will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free of harmful components
- Warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, reliability, or suitability of any information
- Warranties that the Service will meet your requirements or expectations
6. Limitation of Liability & Indemnification
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY CNY SIGNAL PARTY BE LIABLE TO ANY USER OR THIRD PARTY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, including but not limited to damages for:
- Personal injury or wrongful death
- Property damage or loss
- Loss of revenue, profits, data, goodwill, or business opportunity
- Emotional distress or reputational harm
- Any action taken or not taken based on information published on the Service
This limitation applies regardless of the legal theory asserted, even if a CNY Signal Party has been advised of the possibility of such damages. The aggregate liability of all CNY Signal Parties shall not exceed ten U.S. dollars ($10.00).
Indemnification: You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless all CNY Signal Parties from and against any claims, suits, proceedings, losses, liabilities, damages, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your use of the Service; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any applicable law or third-party right; or (d) any action you take in reliance on information obtained from the Service.
7. Accuracy & Completeness of Information
CNY Signal aggregates information from public third-party data sources that it does not control, verify, or independently confirm. All information may be delayed, inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated. CNY Signal expressly disclaims any obligation to verify, correct, or update information in real time.
Users acknowledge that public safety data is inherently time-sensitive and that publication does not constitute confirmation of accuracy.
8. AI-Generated Content
CNY Signal uses artificial intelligence tools (including OpenAI GPT models) to assist with researching, drafting, and editing newsroom articles and content summaries. AI-assisted content is processed through our editorial pipeline but may contain errors, inaccuracies, or AI-generated artifacts.
Users acknowledge that:
- AI-assisted articles are not traditional human-reported journalism
- AI may produce factual errors, outdated information, or mischaracterizations
- AI-generated content is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only
- CNY Signal assumes no liability for decisions made based on AI-assisted content
9. Radio Scanner & Public Safety Data
Incident data is sourced from unencrypted public safety radio communications and government data feeds. CNY Signal does not monitor, intercept, or decode encrypted communications. Reception of unencrypted radio transmissions is lawful under federal law (47 U.S.C. § 605).
All radio-sourced data undergoes automated redaction to remove personally identifiable information before publication. Sensitive categories (juvenile records, mental health calls, sealed records) are suppressed. Location data is generalized to the municipality or neighborhood level.
Despite these safeguards, radio-sourced data may contain errors introduced during transmission, transcription, or processing. Do not use radio-sourced data to navigate to, identify, or respond to any incident.
10. SMS Alert Service Terms
By subscribing to CNY Signal SMS alerts:
- You consent to receive recurring automated text messages at the phone number you provide
- Message frequency varies (typically 2–15/day; may increase during emergencies)
- Standard message and data rates apply — contact your carrier for details
- You may opt out at any time by replying STOP
- Reply HELP for assistance
- Consent is not a condition of any purchase
- You must be 18 years or older to subscribe
CNY Signal complies with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (47 U.S.C. § 227) and maintains timestamped consent records for all subscribers.
For complete data handling practices, see our Privacy Policy.
11. Prohibited Conduct
- Harass, stalk, intimidate, or harm any individual or group
- Navigate to, congregate at, or interfere with any active emergency scene
- Impersonate any emergency services agency or personnel
- Scrape, harvest, or systematically collect data without written authorization
- Introduce malicious code or conduct denial-of-service attacks
- Reproduce, redistribute, or commercially exploit content without authorization
- Use the Service in any manner that violates applicable law
12. Intellectual Property
All original content, visual design, software, and branding on CNY Signal — excluding underlying public data — is the exclusive intellectual property of CNY Signal. No portion may be copied, reproduced, modified, distributed, or exploited without prior written consent. All rights are reserved.
13. Third-Party Links & Services
The Service may contain links to third-party websites or embed content from external providers. CNY Signal has no control over, and assumes no responsibility for, the content or privacy practices of any third-party site. Inclusion of any link does not constitute endorsement.
14. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles. Any dispute shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Onondaga County, New York, and you irrevocably consent to personal jurisdiction. TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, YOU WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL.
15. Changes to Terms
CNY Signal reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes become effective upon posting. Your continued use constitutes acceptance of revised Terms.
16. Severability
If any provision is found invalid or unenforceable, it shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary, and remaining provisions shall continue in full force.
17. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and CNY Signal regarding the Service.
18. Contact
Questions regarding these Terms may be directed to:
- Online: Contact page
- Email: [email protected]