Assemblyman Santabarbara has introduced a new bill in the State Assembly aimed to address safety standards in the limousine industry following the tragic crash in Schoharie, New York that claimed the lives of twenty people this past October. Most of the victims of the crash were from the Amsterdam area represented by Assemblyman Santabarbara.

“Following the tragic limousine crash in Schoharie this past October that claimed the lives of 20 people, the worst transportation disaster in nearly a decade, the need for updated laws governing stretch limousines is apparent,” said Assemblyman Santabarbara. “This bill is aimed at ensuring the most current safety standards for the limousine industry are met and making information on the status of vehicles and drivers public and easily available to consumers.”

Assemblyman Santabarbara’s bill includes:

1. Requires an immediate comprehensive safety review of all carriers of passengers which operate stretch limousines in New York State. This would encompass verification of all drivers, staff, vehicle inspections and background checks. This review will help assure that all limousines meet the most current safety standards required to carry passengers. All vehicles that are not inspected, have failed inspections or do not meet the most current safety standards for any other reason must be seized, disabled and ‘booted’ until they meet all safety standards required by law.

2. Create a public database on all carriers of passengers which operate stretch limousines in New York State that is searchable at any time and can provide important information for consumer protection (i.e. company record/violations, current vehicle inspections and driver licensing information). This gives the consumer a way to check important information before hiring a company. This information must be readily available and be able to be verified by the consumer. This would include an online database provided by the state, similar to the New York State Education Department’s Office of the Professions licensing database that can be checked by a consumer online for current status and any violations prior to hiring.