New legislation aims to improve limo safety
Dec. 1—Earlier this month, Gov. Kathy Hochul's office announced a legislative proposal aimed at improving safety within the limousine industry and increase transparency for passengers, recommended by the Stretch Limousine Passenger Safety Task Force.
According to a press release from Nov. 16, the Stretch Limousine Passenger Safety Act addresses the legislative recommendations of the task force, including:
* Requiring a minimum $10,000 fine for operating a suspended stretch limousine, and authorizing the state Department of Transportation to collaborate with law enforcement to seize license plates of offenders driving passenger vehicles subject to their jurisdiction.
* Requiring that stretch limousines be equipped with enhanced safety features including window break tools, fire extinguishers, improved emergency egress and roll-over protection.
* Prohibiting the operation of a stretch limousine that is more than 10 years old or has milage exceeding 350,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
* Improving data availability on limousine operators.
* Mandating that all stretch limousine passengers be given a pre-trip safety briefing.
The task force was established in 2020, along with more than twenty statutory reforms as a response to limousine crashes in Schoharie — the Oct. 6, 2018 crash killed 20 people — and Cutchogue, Suffolk County.
Along with the legislative proposals to enhance safety measures came the announcement of the discontinuation of the task force.
Assembly Member Chris Tague, R,C-Schoharie, said in a statement Dec. 1 that he is "disappointed" that Hochul won't continue the task force.
"It has already accomplished so much, and there is still a lot of work to be done," he said.
