Parents urge stricter limo rules in N.Y.

ALBANY, N.Y. — Parents of people killed in recent limousine crashes in New York state urged legislators Thursday to pass tougher safety regulations to get unsafe vehicles and operators off the road.

Several provided tearful testimony about last fall’s crash in rural Schoharie County that killed 20 and a wreck on Long Island in 2015 that killed four young women on a winery tour.

“New York dropped the ball on this numerous times,” said Janet Steenburg, who lost two sons in the Schoharie crash. “This should never have happened.”

Specifically, the group wants a new state law requiring seat belts and air bags for all limo passengers, along with stronger inspection rules and better enforcement to ensure vehicles and drivers have proper licenses and permits.

“These vehicles are death traps. We cannot allow these vehicles to share our roads,” said Mindy Grabina, whose daughter died in 2015 when the limo she was riding in with friends on Long Island was T-boned.

Lawmakers vowed to take action following the Schoharie crash, which involved a modified stretch limo that authorities say should not have been on the road.

This year, as part of the state budget, lawmakers voted to increase penalties for operating a limo without proper licensing or violating safety rules. They also authorized state police and transportation officials to seize the license plates of noncompliant vehicles. But lawmakers at Thursday’s hearing said they want to do more before they end the session in June.

The operator of the company involved in last fall’s crash, Nauman Hussain, has pleaded not guilty to 20 counts each of criminally negligent homicide and second-degree manslaughter.

Just weeks before the crash, the limo had failed a state inspection.