Safety, Accountability, and Federal Enforcement of Limos Act of 2021 or the SAFE Limos Act
This bill sets out requirements to improve the safety of limousines.
Within two years of the bill's enactment, the Department of Transportation (DOT) must apply to newly manufactured limousines specified motor vehicle safety standards related to the installation of seat belts and other occupant crash protections. In addition, DOT must report on the feasibility, benefits, and costs of retrofitting limousines to meet those standards.
DOT must also develop additional motor vehicle safety standards to improve limousine safety. This includes standards related to (1) side impact protection, roof crush resistance, and other aspects of crashworthiness; (2) evacuation in the event the exit in the passenger compartment is blocked; and (3) the use of event data recorders.
Additionally, the bill requires that individuals who remodel new limousines submit to DOT and annually update a plan for mitigating limousine safety risks. The plan must include, among other topics, verification that the remodeled limousines meet applicable safety standards. Further, individuals who modify used vehicles into limousines must certify that the modified vehicles meet such standards.
The bill also requires limousine operators to disclose the date of, results of, and any corrective action needed to pass the most recent vehicle inspection. The Federal Trade Commissions shall enforce the disclosure requirements.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2956 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2956
To establish safety standards for certain limousines, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 4, 2021
Mr. Tonko (for himself, Mr. Delgado, and Ms. Stefanik) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish safety standards for certain limousines, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Safety, Accountability, and Federal
Enforcement of Limos Act of 2021'' or the ``SAFE Limos Act''.
SEC. 2. LIMOUSINE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS.
(a) Limousine Standards.--
(1) Safety belt and seating system standards for
limousines.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe a final
rule--
(A) that amends Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard Numbers 208, 209, and 210 to require to be
installed in limousines at each designated seating
position, including on side-facing seats--
(i) an occupant restraint system consisting
of integrated lap shoulder belts; or
(ii) an occupant restraint system
consisting of a lap belt if the occupant
restraint system described in clause (i) does
not meet the need for motor vehicle safety; and
(B) that amends Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard Number 207 to require limousines to meet
standards for seats (including side-facing seats), seat
attachment assemblies, and seat installation to
minimize the possibility of their failure by forces
acting on them as a result of vehicle impact.
(2) Report on retrofit assessment for limousines.--Not
later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report
that assesses the feasibility, benefits, and costs with respect
to the application of any requirement established under
paragraph (1) to a limousine introduced into interstate
commerce before the date on which the requirement takes effect.
(b) Safety Regulation of Limousines.--
(1) In general.--Section 30102(a)(6) of title 49, United
States Code, is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``or'' at the
end;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and
inserting ``; or''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) modifying a passenger motor vehicle (as such
term is defined in section 32101) that has already been
purchased by the first purchaser (as such term is
defined in subsection (b)) by increasing the wheelbase
of the vehicle so that the vehicle has increased
seating capacity.''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1)
shall apply beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
(c) Limousine Compliance With Federal Safety Standards.--
(1) In general.--Chapter 301 of title 49, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after section 30128 the
following:
``Sec. 30129. Limousine compliance with Federal safety standards
``(a) Requirement.--Beginning on the date that is 1 year after the
date of the enactment of this section, a limousine remodeler may not
offer for sale, lease, or rent, introduce or deliver for introduction
into interstate commerce, or import into the United States a new
limousine unless the limousine remodeler has submitted to the Secretary
a vehicle remodeler plan (or an updated vehicle remodeler plan required
by subsection (b), as applicable) that describes how the remodeler is
mitigating risks to motor vehicle safety posed by the limousines of the
remodeler. A vehicle remodeler plan shall include the following:
``(1) Verification and validation of compliance with
applicable motor vehicle safety standards.
``(2) Design, quality control, manufacturing, and training
practices adopted by the limousine remodeler.
``(3) Customer support guidelines, including instructions
for limousine occupants to wear seatbelts and limousine
operators to notify occupants of the date and results of the
most recent inspection of the limousine.
``(b) Updates.--Each limousine remodeler shall submit an updated
vehicle remodeler plan to the Secretary each year.
``(c) Publicly Available.--The Secretary shall make any vehicle
remodeler plan submitted under subsection (a) or (b) publicly available
not later than 60 days after the date on which the plan is received,
except the Secretary may not make publicly available any information
relating to a trade secret or other confidential business information
(as such terms are defined in section 512.3 of title 49, Code of
Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation)).
``(d) Review.--The Secretary may inspect any vehicle remodeler plan
submitted by a limousine remodeler under subsection (a) or (b) to
enable the Secretary to determine whether the limousine remodeler has
complied, or is complying, with this chapter or a regulation prescribed
or order issued pursuant to this chapter.
``(e) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed to affect discovery, a subpoena or other court order, or any
other judicial process otherwise allowed under applicable Federal or
State law.
``(f) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions
apply:
``(1) Certified passenger motor vehicle.--The term
`certified passenger motor vehicle' means a passenger motor
vehicle that has been certified in accordance with section
30115 to meet all applicable motor vehicle safety standards.
``(2) Incomplete vehicle.--The term `incomplete vehicle'
has the meaning given such term in section 567.3 of title 49,
Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
``(3) Limousine.--The term `limousine' means a motor
vehicle--
``(A) that has a seating capacity of 9 or more
persons (including the driver);
``(B) with a gross vehicle weight rating greater
than 10,000 pounds but not greater than 26,000 pounds;
and
``(C) that the Secretary has determined by
regulation has physical characteristics resembling--
``(i) a passenger car;
``(ii) a multipurpose passenger vehicle; or
``(iii) a truck with a gross vehicle weight
rating of 10,000 pounds or less.
``(4) Limousine operator.--The term `limousine operator'
means a person who owns or leases, and uses, a limousine to
transport passengers for compensation.
``(5) Limousine remodeler.--The term `limousine remodeler'
means a person who alters or modifies by addition,
substitution, or removal of components (other than readily
attachable components) an incomplete vehicle, a vehicle
manufactured in two or more stages, or a certified passenger
motor vehicle before or after the first purchase of the vehicle
to manufacture a limousine.
``(6) Multipurpose passenger vehicle.--The term
`multipurpose passenger vehicle' has the meaning given such
term in section 571.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations
(or any successor regulation).
``(7) Passenger car.--The term `passenger car' has the
meaning given such term in section 571.3 of title 49, Code of
Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
``(8) Passenger motor vehicle.--The term `passenger motor
vehicle' has the meaning given such term in section 32101.
``(9) Truck.--The term `truck' has the meaning given such
term in section 571.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations
(or any successor regulation).''.
(2) Enforcement.--Section 30165(a)(1) of title 49, United
States Code, is amended by inserting ``30129,'' after
``30127,''.
(3) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for
subchapter II of chapter 301 of title 49, United States Code,
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
30128 the following:
``30129. Limousine compliance with Federal safety standards.''.
(d) Limousine Crashworthiness.--
(1) Research.--Not later than 4 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete research
into the development of motor vehicle safety standards for side
impact protection, roof crush resistance, and air bag systems
for the protection of occupants for limousines with alternative
seating positions, including perimeter seating arrangements.
(2) Rulemaking or report.--
(A) Crashworthiness standards.--
(i) In general.--Not later than 2 years
after the completion of the research required
under paragraph (1), except as provided in
clause (ii), the Secretary shall prescribe a
final motor vehicle safety standard, for the
protection of occupants in limousines with
alternative seating positions, for each of the
following:
(I) Side impact protection.
(II) Roof crush resistance.
(III) Air bag systems.
(ii) Requirements and considerations.--The
Secretary may only prescribe a motor vehicle
safety standard described in clause (i) if the
Secretary determines that such standard meets
the requirements and considerations set forth
in subsections (a) and (b) of section 30111 of
title 49, United States Code.
(B) Report.--If the Secretary determines that a
standard described in subparagraph (A)(i) does not meet
the requirements and considerations set forth in
subsections (a) and (b) of section 30111 of title 49,
United States Code, the Secretary shall publish in the
Federal Register and submit to the Committee on Energy
and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate a report describing the reasons for not
prescribing such standard.
(e) Limousine Evacuation.--
(1) Research.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete research
into safety features and standards that aid evacuation in the
event that one exit in the passenger compartment of a limousine
is blocked.
(2) Standards.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe a
final motor vehicle safety standard based on the results of the
research under paragraph (1).
(f) Limousine Inspection Disclosure.--
(1) In general.--A limousine operator may not introduce a
limousine into interstate commerce unless the limousine
operator has prominently disclosed in a clear and conspicuous
notice, including on the website of the operator if the
operator has a website, the following:
(A) The date of the most recent inspection of the
limousine required under State or Federal law.
(B) The results of the inspection.
(C) Any corrective action taken by the limousine
operator to ensure the limousine passed inspection.
(2) Federal trade commission enforcement.--The Federal
Trade Commission shall enforce this subsection in the same
manner, by the same means, and with the same jurisdiction,
powers, and duties as though all applicable terms and
provisions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et
seq.) were incorporated into and made a part of this
subsection. Any person who violates this subsection shall be
subject to the penalties and entitled to the privileges and
immunities provided in the Federal Trade Commission Act (15
U.S.C. 41 et seq.).
(3) Savings provision.--Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed to limit the authority of the Federal Trade
Commission under any other provision of law.
(4) Effective date.--This subsection shall take effect 180
days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(g) Event Data Recorders for Limousines.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall prescribe a
final motor vehicle safety standard requiring the use of event
data recorders for limousines.
(2) Privacy protections.--Any standard prescribed under
paragraph (1) pertaining to event data recorder information
shall be consistent with the collection and sharing
requirements under the FAST Act (Public Law 114-94) and any
other applicable law.
(h) Definitions.--In this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) Event data recorder.--The term ``event data recorder''
has the meaning given such term in section 563.5 of title 49,
Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation).
(2) Limousine.--The term ``limousine'' has the meaning
given such term in section 30129 of title 49, United States
Code, as added by this section.
(3) Limousine operator.--The term ``limousine operator''
has the meaning given such term in section 30129 of title 49,
United States Code, as added by this section.
(4) Limousine remodeler.--The term ``limousine remodeler''
has the meaning given such term in section 30129 of title 49,
United States Code, as added by this section.
(5) Motor vehicle.--The term ``motor vehicle'' has the
meaning given such term in section 30102(a) of title 49, United
States Code.
(6) Motor vehicle safety standard.--The term ``motor
vehicle safety standard'' has the meaning given such term in
section 30102(a) of title 49, United States Code.
(7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Transportation.
(8) State.--The term ``State'' has the meaning given such
term in section 30102(a) of title 49, United States Code.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce.
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