Democratic Rep. Antonio Delgado on Thursday signaled he is making a renewed push to bolster stretch limousine safety following a crash in 2018 that killed 20 people.
The bills, backed alongside fellow Democratic Rep. Paul Tonko, would add stretch limousines to fall under the defintion of commercial motor vehicles, while another would push states to take stretch limousines deemed unsafe off the road.
And the lawmakers are calling for a package of new safety measures that would require seat belts, ends a loophole that allows vehicles to be converted into stretch limos without meeting federal safety standards and puts in place research to study side impact protection, roof crush resistance and air bag system protections for occupants.
The measures would build on legislation approved at the state level following the crash meant to strengthen safety standards for stretch limousines.
“The heartbreaking limousine accident that claimed the lives of 20 New York residents is a tragedy that should never have occurred. We owe it to the families and communities affected by this crash, as well as the first responders who rushed to the scene to aid those in need, to create stronger safety standards,” Delgado said. “Last Congress, the End the Limo Loophole Act received overwhelming bipartisan support and was passed by the House of Representatives. This Congress, Representative Tonko and I will keep fighting to enact this long-overdue reform and save lives.”