What's happening
This bill increases penalties and lowers the seating capacity threshold for U-turn violations by operators of stretch limousines in New York.
Why it matters
Expands which vehicles are covered. By lowering the seating capacity threshold from ten to nine passengers (including the driver), more stretch limousines will be subject to these U-turn restrictions and penalties, potentially increasing safety oversight for a wider range of vehicles.
Significantly increases penalties. The bill raises fines and possible jail time for U-turn violations by stretch limousine drivers, with especially harsh penalties if passengers are present. This could deter risky driving behaviors and encourage stricter compliance.
Targets repeat offenders. Enhanced penalties for second or subsequent violations within 18 months aim to reduce habitual dangerous behavior among stretch limousine operators.
Addresses passenger safety concerns. The highest penalties are imposed when a stretch limousine is carrying at least one passenger, reflecting a legislative focus on protecting riders and responding to past high-profile limousine crashes.
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Who cares
Stretch limousine drivers
Drivers violating the U-turn ban would face fines or jail, with higher penalties for repeat violations within eighteen months and violations while carrying passengers.
Limousine companies
The bill would extend the U-turn ban to stretch limousines seating nine people including the driver, lowering the threshold from ten.
Stretch limousine passengers
An illegal U-turn while carrying at least one passenger would carry a fine of $750 to $1,000, up to 180 days in jail, or both.
Headline styles
Increase Limo U-Turn Penalties
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Substituted by A8172B
- Ordered to third reading cal.77
- Reported and committed to rules
- Print number 6188b
- Amend (t) and recommit to transportation
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to transportation
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Advanced to third reading
Show 4 earlier actions
- 2nd report cal.
- Amended 6188a
- 1st report cal.1086
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Increase Limo U-Turn Penalties
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Angelo Santabarbara
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6188--B
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 21, 2019
Introduced by Sens. GAUGHRAN, CARLUCCI, KAPLAN, KENNEDY, LIU, TEDISCO -read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first report, amended on first report, ordered to a second report and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of second report -- recommitted to the Committee on Transportation in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to penalties for U-turn violations committed by operators of stretch limousines
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision c of section 1161 of the vehicle and traffic law, as added by section 14 of part III of chapter 59 of the laws of 2019, is amended to read as follows:
c. No altered motor vehicle commonly referred to as a "stretch limousine" having a seating capacity of [ten] nine or more passengers including the driver shall make a U-turn upon any public highway or private road open to public motor vehicle traffic. Every person convicted of a violation of this subdivision shall: for a first conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars nor more than four hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than fifteen days or by both such fine and imprisonment; for a conviction of a second or subsequent violation, both of which were committed within a period of eighteen months, such person shall be punished by a fine of not less than six hundred dollars nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars or by imprisonment for not more than forty-five days or by both such fine and imprisonment. A violation of this subdivision wherein the violator is operating such altered motor vehicle and such altered motor vehicle is carrying at least one passenger other than the driver shall be punisha-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11412-17-9
S. 6188--B 2
ble by a fine of not less than seven hundred fifty dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one hundred eighty days or by both such fine and imprisonment.
§ 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law; provided, however that if part III of chapter 59 of the laws of 2019 shall not have taken effect on or before such date, then section one of this act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as such part of chapter 59 of the laws of 2019 takes effect.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to penalties for U-turn violations committed by operators of stretch limousines
Purpose
To increase penalties for stretch limousines which make illegal u-turns.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the vehicle and traffic law to expand the u-turn ban created in the 2019 Adopted Budget to cover any stretch limousine with a seating capacity of nine or more passengers, and increases the penalties for violating this ban to a penalty of no less than $250 and/or 15 days' imprisonment for the first offense, no less than $600 and/or 45 days' imprisonment for a second offense within 18 months, and a $750-$1000 fine and/or 180 days' imprisonment for operators who are carrying at least one passenger while violating the u-turn ban.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
The Cutchogue tragedy - which resulted largely from a stretch limousine committing an illegal u-turn - and subsequent special grand jury report convened by Suffolk County highlighted the difficulty that employers face in ensuring that stretch limousine operators comply with the traf- fic laws. Grand jury witnesses testified that they provided training and prohibited their employees from making u-turns, only to have those proscriptions ignored.
This legislation increases the penalties to provide increased financial or criminal consequences for committing these dangerous actions, partic- ularly when an operator has passengers in the vehicle while violating these laws.
Legislative history
2019: Similar bill S.6188-A passed Senate without objection.
Fiscal implications
None for State.
Effective pate
Generally one year after being signed into law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.