Requires pre-trip safety briefings by drivers of stretch limousines; directs the commissioner of DMV to establish content for safety briefings to be made to passengers and requires drivers to demonstrate proficiency in providing briefings.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4067
SPONSOR: Santabarbara TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to pre-trip
safety briefings for drivers of stretch limousines
PURPOSE:
Similar to airline protocols or other commercial ride vessels, this
legislation will require an operator of an altered motor vehicle common-
ly referred to as "stretch limousines" to provide a pre-trip safety
briefing for passengers either verbally or in writing. The addition of
this requirement could save lives by providing necessary safety informa-
tion for passengers. The form and content of the briefing will be deter-
mined by the Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Transportation,
and Division of State Police.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
This legislation amends the Vehicle and Traffic Law to require the
Department of Motor Vehicles to regulate and update the content for
motor carriers operating stretch limousines to offer pre-trip safety
briefings to passengers. Additionally, this subdivision requires the
Department to coordinate with the Department of Transportation and State
Police in developing the briefings' content.
This legislation also directs motor carriers to regularly check to
ensure that drivers demonstrate their proficiency in providing the safe-
ty briefing if the Department of Motor Vehicles requires a live briefing
to be provided.
EXISTING LAW:
None.
JUSTIFICATION:
The legislation implements this recommendation from the Stretch Limou-
sine Passenger Safety Task Force, which was established in Chapter 3 of
the Laws of 2020 to study a host of safety improvements for stretch
limousines. The Task Force was created in the wake of deadly crashes in
Schoharie and Cutchogue, NY.
Stretch limousines are the vehicle of choice for celebratory occasions,
from family eVents, to birthdays, to weddings, to the annual ritual of
prom. But they also present unique challenges that implicate the safety
of drivers and passengers alike.
As with any area where multiple state agencies must collaborate, period-
ic review of inter-agency and external communication is critical to
ensure passenger safety.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment
and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
of this act on its effective date.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4067
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 9, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to pre-trip
safety briefings for drivers of stretch limousines
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 509-g of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
3 7. In addition to any other provisions of this section, in the event
4 the commissioner requires the provision of live in-person pre-trip safe-
5 ty briefings, all motor carriers shall regularly require each driver who
6 operates altered motor vehicles commonly referred to as "stretch limou-
7 sines" to demonstrate their proficiency in providing pre-trip safety
8 briefings required pursuant to subdivision nine of section five hundred
9 nine-m of this article.
10 § 2. Section 509-m of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding
11 a new subdivision 9 to read as follows:
12 9. (a) Establish and regularly update the form and content of a pre-
13 trip safety briefing for motor carriers that operate altered motor vehi-
14 cles commonly referred to as "stretch limousines", which operators shall
15 provide to passengers prior to transporting any persons for hire in such
16 stretch limousine.
17 (b) The commissioner shall coordinate with the department of transpor-
18 tation and the division of state police in preparing the form and
19 content of such safety briefing, and may engage additional entities or
20 individuals he or she deems appropriate.
21 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
22 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
23 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
24 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
25 completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01844-02-3
