Assembly Bill A1218

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1218
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              January 9, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Transportation
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  vehicle  and traffic law, in relation to safety
   requirements in stretch limousines and omnibuses
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section  1.  Section  375 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by
 adding a new subdivision 58 to read as follows:
   58. ANTI-INTRUSION BAR AND  WINDOW  BREAK  TOOL  REQUIRED  IN  STRETCH
 LIMOUSINES.  (A)  (I)  EVERY  STRETCH LIMOUSINE REGISTERED IN THIS STATE
 SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-INTRUSION BARS IN EACH DOOR.
   (II) EVERY  STRETCH  LIMOUSINE  REGISTERED  IN  THIS  STATE  SHALL  BE
 EQUIPPED WITH A WINDOW BREAK TOOL.
   (B) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION:
   (I)  "STRETCH  LIMOUSINE" SHALL MEAN AN ALTERED MOTOR VEHICLE HAVING A
 SEATING CAPACITY OF NINE  OR  MORE  PASSENGERS,  INCLUDING  THE  DRIVER,
 COMMONLY  REFERRED  TO AS A "STRETCH LIMOUSINE" AND WHICH IS USED IN THE
 BUSINESS OF TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS FOR COMPENSATION.
   (II) "ANTI-INTRUSION BAR" SHALL MEAN A BAR TYPICALLY MADE OF METAL  OR
 STEEL  WHICH  IS INSTALLED INTO THE DOORS OF A STRETCH LIMOUSINE FOR THE
 PURPOSES OF MINIMIZING THE IMPACT TOWARDS OCCUPANTS IN THE  EVENT  OF  A
 CRASH.
   (III) "WINDOW BREAK TOOL" SHALL MEAN A TOOL INTENDED TO FACILITATE THE
 BREAKING OF WINDOWS IN A VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.
   §  2.  Subdivision 9 of section 375 of the vehicle and traffic law, as
 amended by chapter 576 of the laws  of  1985,  is  amended  to  read  as
 follows:
   9.  Every  omnibus  operating  upon  the  public highways of the state
 having a carrying capacity of [ten] NINE or more  passengers,  shall  be
 equipped with one hand fire extinguisher of at least 4 B:C Underwriters'
 Laboratories  rating  or a similar rating by any qualified laboratory or
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03225-01-5
              

 A. 1218                             2
 
 testing organization which meets the criteria of  American  Society  for
 Testing Materials test E548-76. Fire extinguishers shall be kept in good
 operating  condition at all times and must be mounted in a place readily
 accessible for use.
   §  3.  Paragraph b of subdivision 10 of section 375 of the vehicle and
 traffic law, as amended by chapter 914 of the laws of 1970,  is  amended
 to read as follows:
   b. In addition to the above requirements, an omnibus having a capacity
 of  [ten]  NINE or more passengers registered in this state and manufac-
 tured or assembled after July first, nineteen hundred seventy, shall  be
 equipped with a mirror attached to the right side of such vehicle and so
 adjusted that the driver thereof shall have a clear and full view of the
 road and condition of traffic behind such vehicle.
   §  4.  Severability.  If any clause, sentence, subdivision, paragraph,
 section or part of this act be adjudged by any court of competent juris-
 diction to be invalid, or if any federal agency  determines  in  writing
 that  this act would render New York state ineligible for the receipt of
 federal funds such judgment or written determination shall  not  affect,
 impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its
 operation  to  the  clause, sentence, subdivision, paragraph, section or
 part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment
 or written determination shall have been rendered.
   § 5. This act shall take effect two years after it shall have become a
 law; provided, however, that this act shall be deemed  repealed  if  any
 federal agency determines in writing that this act would render New York
 state ineligible for the receipt of federal funds or any court of compe-
 tent jurisdiction finally determines that this act would render New York
 state out of compliance with federal law or regulation. The commissioner
 of  transportation shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission
 upon the occurrence of the provisions of section  two  of  this  act  in
 order  that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective
 data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New  York  in
 furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legisla-
 tive  law  and  section 70-b of the public officers law. Effective imme-
 diately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation
 necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective  date  are
 authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.