Recommendations from New York State’s Stretch Limousine Passenger Safety Task Force resulted in a legislative proposal aimed at improving safety in the industry and increasing transparency for passengers. Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office announced the introduction of the legislation in November, which includes the following:
- 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 limousine passengers be given a pre-trip safety briefing.
The task force was established in 2020, in response to catastrophic limousine crashes in Schoharie in 2018 and Cutchogue, Suffolk County in 2015.
Source: The Daily Star
