Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D-Utica/Rome) announced that she helped pass several bills to improve limousine safety standards and impose stricter oversight of the industry. These measures were written following multiple deadly limousine crashes in New York State, including a crash in Schoharie County that claimed the lives of 20 people in October 2018 – the nation’s deadliest transportation accident in nine years.[1]

“In the wake of these devastating limousine accidents, the need to update safety standards for stretch limos is heartbreakingly apparent,” said Buttenschon. “We must do everything we can to prevent tragedies like the horrific crash in Schoharie from ever happening again. I supported this legislation to strengthen regulations for limo operators and passengers to help ensure no community has to suffer such a painful loss.”

In the months after the tragedy in Schoharie, it was reported that the state Department of Transportation (DOT) had been investigating the limousine company involved in the crash more than a year before it occurred and had ordered the limousine off the road twice after it had failed safety inspections.^[2] To avoid another preventable accident and ensure the DOT can keep these dangerous vehicles off the road, Buttenschon supported a measure authorizing the DOT to impound or immobilize stretch limousines that fail a safety inspection until the vehicle is repaired (A.9056). While most limousine operators take safety seriously, this legislation would help protect the public from negligent operators, she noted.

In addition, Buttenschon helped pass a bill that would require the installation of approved seatbelts in all stretch limousines and that they are clearly visible, accessible and in good working condition (A.9057).

To further protect passengers, pedestrians and other motorists, the Assembly’s legislative package includes measures to:

• establish and publicize a toll-free hotline that allows individuals to report safety issues regarding stretch limousine vehicles or drivers (A.8214-B).
• require motor carriers to conduct pre-employment and random drug and alcohol testing of drivers who operate stretch limousines, taxis and liveries that hold nine or more passengers including the driver (A.712-A);
• require the DMV to maintain and annually update its website to provide information on motor carriers operating stretch limousines (A.9059). This information would include the carrier’s name, location, address and region of operation, the number and nature of the carrier’s violations and data relating to limousine operations and drivers;
• establish a stretch limousine passenger safety task force to study and provide a final report of other outstanding safety issues in the limousine industry (A.1316-C);
• require drivers of stretch limousines with seating capacities of nine or more passengers including the driver to hold a commercial driver’s license with a passenger endorsement – a license class that mandates more driver training and regular vehicle inspections – and that stretch limousines comply with DOT safety regulations (A.8474-A);
• require stretch limousines with seating capacities of nine or more passengers including the driver registered within New York State to use commercial Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technology that meets federal standards (A.9058);
• increase penalties for illegal U-turn violations committed by stretch limousine drivers (A.8172-B); and
• require taxi and livery passengers aged 16 or older be restrained by a seatbelt regardless of where they are sitting and prohibit persons from operating a taxi or livery vehicle unless all passengers between the ages of 8 and 15 are restrained by seatbelts (A.8990).

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[1] timesunion.com/news/article/20-killed-in-Schoharie-limousine-crash-13288015.php

[2] timesunion.com/7day-state/article/IG-complaint-DOT-shares-blame-for-limo-tragedy-13932379.php