Rep. Delgado Reintroduces Limo Safety Legislation

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) reintroduced the bipartisan End the Limo Loophole Act. Rep. Delgado also joined Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20) to reintroduce additional legislation to bolster limousine safety. Last Congress, the Representatives' slate of legislation was included in the House-passed Moving Forward Act, HR 2.

"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," said Rep. Delgado. "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."

Limo Safety Measures:

The End the Limo Loophole Act

Updates "Commercial Motor Vehicle" definition to include vehicles modified to seat 9+ people
The SAFE Limos Act (Safety, Accountability, and Federal Enforcement of Limos Act of 2021)

Requires that limousines have safety belts for every designated seating position and adhere to federal standards for seats and seat assemblies
Closes the loophole that currently allows used vehicles to be converted into limousines without meeting federal safety standards
Requires limousine manufacturers to submit "vehicle modifier plans" detailing how they will comply with strict federal standards
Directs research into side impact protection, roof crush resistance, and air bag systems for protection of occupants based on various seating configurations
Requires NHTSA to conduct research and issue standards that can aid egress and regress in the event that a primary exit from the limousine's passenger compartment is blocked
Requires limousine operators to prominently display last inspection dates, results & correctives
The Take Unsafe Limos Off the Road Act

Incentivizes states to strengthen policies to impound or immobilize unsafe limousines to be eligible for federal funds.
The package of federal limousine safety reforms was introduced last Congress on the one-year anniversary of a tragic limousine crash in Schoharie, New York, that took the lives of 20 people. Reps. Delgado and Tonko worked closely with the families of these victims as well as a group of families who lost loved ones in another limousine tragedy on Long Island to craft this legislation.

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