New York - New reforms aimed at improving police interactions in New York City include requirements that officers hand out their business cards to people they stop and explain why law enforcement activity is taking place.

The measures, which took effect Friday, also require that officers be trained to obtain voluntary, knowing and intelligent consent before conducting searches without a warrant.

The laws, known together as the Right to Know to Act, were approved in December.

Backers say they grew out of concern that controversy over stop-and-frisk practices had eroded trust in the police department.

The NYPD says it has printed about 10 million business cards, developed new training, updated its online patrol guide and created a handy, one-page reference guide for officers to comply with the new requirements.