NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Governor Andrew Cuomo signed landmark safety reforms for the limousine industry on Monday.
The comprehensive 10-point package puts into place new safety standards that include new seatbelt requirements, the immobilization of defective limousines and increased penalties for illegal U-turns.
"These far-reaching reforms deliver much-needed protections that will help keep dangerous vehicles off our roadways, crack down on businesses that do not prioritize safety and will give New Yorkers piece of mind when they enter a limo in this state," Governor Cuomo said.
"New York stands with those who lost loved one in the horrific crashes that inspired this legislation and I commend the family members who worked tirelessly to help pass these bills to help prevent future tragedies," he adds.
The new legislation requires that vehicles converted into stretch limousines on or after January 1, 2021 have at least two safety belts for the front seat and at least one safety belt in the rear for each passenger the vehicle was designed to hold.
It also requires that all stretch limousines to be retrofitted to include seatbelts by the start of 2023.
The new laws also expands seatbelt use requirements in for-hire vehicles including taxis and livery vehicles.The Commissioner of Transportation can now impound or immobilize stretch limousines in certain situations and provides that an impounded motor vehicle will not be released unless the Commissioner provides written notice that the vehicle has passed re-inspection.
Any release of a vehicle without approval by the Commissioner will be punishable by a fine of up to $10,000.Limo drivers will now face increased penalties for illegal U-turns. Violations will be subject to a $250 to $400 fine and may even include up to 15 days imprisonment.
Drivers with a second violation in an 18-month period will be subject to a $600 to $750 fine and up to 45 days imprisonment.
Violations involving a stretch limousine making an illegal U-turn while carrying at least one passenger would be subject to a $750 to $1,000 fine and up to 180 days imprisonment.Stretch limousines will now be required to use GPS technology designed specifically for commercial vehicles .The Commissioners of Transportation and Motor Vehicles will establish, maintain, monitor and publicize a telephone hotline operated and maintained by the Department of Motor Vehicles used to report safety issues with stretch limousines.
A safe limo website maintained by the Department of Transportation will be created where both departments are able to investigate any reports generated by the hotline as well as use verified information from those reports in their enforcement actions.Every motor carrier must hand the Department of Motor Vehicles a list of each altered motor vehicle designed to carry nine or more passengers and will require that the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles annually review the bus driver files of each driver employed by a motor vehicle carrier who operates a stretch limousine, along with publishing various safety metrics.
The DMV must annually update its website to provide information on motor carriers operating stretch limousines and data on limousine operations and drivers."Too many times, joyous events here in New York have turned into tragic accidents because of a lack of oversight and safety standards in the limousine industry. That ends now. These reforms will hold the industry accountable, making limos safer for passengers, drivers and everyone on our roads."Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said.
There will also be new commercial driver's license requirements for limousine drivers, creation of a passenger task force and drug and alcohol testing.
Drivers operating limousines carrying nine or more passengers, including the driver must now have a passenger endorsed commercial driver's license.There will be a passenger safety task force created to conduct a comprehensive review of matters influencing the safety, adequacy, efficiency and reliability of stretch limousine vehicles.Drivers will now be subject to pre-employment and random drug and alcohol testing under the new legislation.
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