PARAMUS – People of a certain age probably have warm memories listening to classic AM radio stations like 770 WABC.

How we get information and entertainment is changing rapidly, but AM radio needs to be available to all.

That’s the thrust of bipartisan federal legislation trumpeted Monday morning by Rep. Josh Gottheimer.

The congressman from CD-5 stationed himself alongside Route 17 and directly in front of an open ditch.

This was no coincidence. On the other side of the ditch stands a Tesla dealership and that is the problem.

Many makers of electric vehicles have stopped putting AM radio in their cars. They say the AM frequencies don’t mesh well with electric motors, causing buzzing noises and faded signals.

Gottheimer acknowledged that problem, but said some EV manufacturers have fixed it.

And he said that Tesla CEO Elon Musk should be able to do that as well, given the fact he has the resources to buy Twitter and to launch spaceships.

As stated, there are many ways to get info these days and radio, AM especially, may seem a bit dated.

Not so, argued Jordan Walton, the executive director of the New Jersey Broadcasters Association.

Joining the congressman for today’s event, Walton said that about 85 million Americans listen to AM radio every day. There are 39 such stations in the state and about 4,500 across the nation, he said.

Walton said AM radio is the “backbone” of the nation’s emergency alert system.

All people likely recall emergencies, but just to make sure, Gottheimer talked about the 9/11 attacks and Superstorm Sandy.

When phone lines,TV and computers are down, people can get needed emergency info from the AM radio in their car, or if they still have one, a transistor radio, he said.

“Without AM radio, the emergency alert system fails” Walton warned.

Gottheimer said a bill in the House to require manufacturers to keep AM radio in their vehicles has about 200 sponsors and bipartisan support, including the Republican Speaker, Mike Johnson. Things are the same in the Senate, where Gottheimer said such divergent figures as Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders support the idea.

Looking ahead, the congressman raised fears that if left unchecked, car manufacturers may get to a point where a vehicle’s dashboard is no longer free, meaning drivers would pay a monthly fee to hear information and entertainment.

In the interim, Gottheimer wants a warning sticker placed on new cars being sold without AM radios.

Think of it as similar to warnings on a pack of cigarettes. It would read:

“Warning; No AM Radio.Vehicle Unsafe in Emergencies.”