S 5394: Relates to additional equipment requirements for stretch limousines; requires that stretch limousines are equipped with the necessary quantity of window break tools and operational fire extinguishers.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 5394 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE February 21, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to additional equipment requirements for stretch limousines The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 375 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by 2 adding a new subdivision 58 to read as follows: 3 58. Stretch limousine additional equipment requirements. (a) It shall 4 be unlawful to operate or cause to be operated a stretch limousine 5 registered in this state on any public highway or private road open to 6 public motor vehicle traffic unless such vehicle is equipped with the 7 necessary quantity of window break tools and operational fire extin- 8 guishers prescribed by the commissioner of transportation in consulta- 9 tion with the commissioner. 10 (b) For the purposes of this subdivision: 11 (i) "Stretch limousine" shall mean an altered motor vehicle having a 12 seating capacity of nine or more passengers, including the driver, 13 commonly referred to as a "stretch limousine" and which is used in the 14 business of transporting passengers for compensation. 15 (ii) "Stretch limousine" shall exclude a historical motor vehicle or 16 any other motor vehicle which is owned and operated as an exhibition 17 piece or collector's item, and is used for participation in club activ- 18 ities, exhibits, tours, parades, occasional transportation and similar 19 uses, but not used in the business of transporting passengers for 20 compensation. 21 (iii) "Window break tool" shall mean a tool that can be used to open 22 the windows of a stretch limousine in the event of an emergency, which 23 can be safely stored when not in use. 24 § 2. Severability. If any clause, sentence, subdivision, paragraph, 25 section or part of this act be adjudged by any court of competent juris- EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD07799-01-5 
 S. 5394 2 1 diction to be invalid, or if any federal agency determines in writing 2 that this act would render New York state ineligible for the receipt of 3 federal funds, such judgment or written determination shall not affect, 4 impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its 5 operation to the clause, sentence, subdivision, paragraph, section or 6 part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment 7 or written determination shall have been rendered. 8 § 3. This act shall take effect two years after it shall have become a 9 law; provided, however, that this act shall be deemed repealed if any 10 federal agency determines in writing that this act would render New York 11 state ineligible for the receipt of federal funds or any court of compe- 12 tent jurisdiction finally determines that this act would render New York 13 state out of compliance with federal law or regulation. The commissioner 14 of motor vehicles or the commissioner of transportation shall notify the 15 legislative bill drafting commission upon the occurrence of any federal 16 agency determining in writing that this act would render New York state 17 ineligible for the receipt of federal funds or any court of competent 18 jurisdiction finally determines that this act would render New York 19 state out of compliance with federal law or regulation in order that the 20 commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of 21 the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of 22 effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and 23 section 70-b of the public officers law. Effective immediately, the 24 addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary 25 for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized 26 to be made and completed on or before such effective date.