Stefanik to offer package of bills updating limo-related safety policies

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) plans soon to introduce a package of bicameral, bipartisan bills with her New York colleagues aimed at modifying limousines to meet federal safety standards, improve inspection requirements, and direct research to update limousine safety regulations.

The legislation is a response to a 2018 limousine crash in Schoharie, N.Y., that caused the death of 20 people, making it the deadliest transportation accident in the United States since 2009, according to Rep. Stefanik’s office.

While the investigation is ongoing, recent recommendations by the National Transportation Safety Board “make it clear that critical gaps in the federal standards are undermining the safety of passengers,” Rep. Stefanik said. “Our proposal will close existing loopholes in the limousine safety standards and keep unsafe vehicles off our roads.”

Rep. Stefanik announced on Oct. 3 that she will offer the Safety, Accountability, and Federal Enforcement (SAFE) Limos Act of 2019, the Take Unsafe Limos Off the Road Act, and the End the Limo Loophole Act.

Joining Rep. Stefanik to introduce the bills will be U.S. Reps. Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Antonio Delgado (D-NY). U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) will introduce companion legislation in their chamber.

The congresswoman’s staff also released a summary of the three bills.

The SAFE Limos Act of 2019 would require all new limousines to have lap and shoulder belts that meet minimum safety requirements for each designated seating position, and would require the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to evaluate whether existing limousines should be retrofitted with the same to meet minimum safety requirements, among other provisions, including those dealing with limo evacuation requirements, crash safety and inspection disclosure.

The Take Unsafe Limos Off the Road Act would create a grant program to support states’ efforts to impound or immobilize vehicles that fail inspection for critical safety reasons. The bill also would require the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to reconsider requiring states to inspect all commercial motor vehicles designed or used to transport passengers.

The End the Limo Loophole Act would amend the definition of a Commercial Motor Vehicle to ensure that it covers all vehicles used to transport more than 15 people so that federal safety rules apply.

“I am looking forward to working with my New York colleagues on this comprehensive and bipartisan legislation to ensure such senseless tragedies never happen again,” said Rep. Stefanik.