File #: Int 0529-2014    Version: Name: Strengthening the licensing requirements in the sight-seeing bus industry.
Type: Introduction Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on Consumer Affairs
On agenda: 11/13/2014
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to strengthening the licensing requirements in the sight-seeing bus industry.
Sponsors: Rafael L. Espinal, Jr., Ydanis A. Rodriguez, Donovan J. Richards, Margaret S. Chin, Costa G. Constantinides, Corey D. Johnson, Peter A. Koo, Rosie Mendez, Inez D. Barron, Helen K. Rosenthal, Carlos Menchaca, Deborah L. Rose
Council Member Sponsors: 12
Summary: In light of multiple accidents involving sight-seeing buses that occurred this year, this bill expands licensing requirements for drivers of sight-seeing buses. This bill creates a new “sight-seeing bus driver license” and requires the Department of Consumer Affairs to create rules governing this new license.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 529, 2. Int. No. 529 - 11/13/14, 3. Committee Report 9/26/16, 4. Hearing Testimony 9/26/16, 5. Hearing Transcript 9/26/16, 6. Proposed Int. No. 529-A - 1/4/17
Date Ver.Prime SponsorAction ByActionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsMultimedia
12/31/2017ARafael L. Espinal, Jr. City Council Filed (End of Session)  Action details Meeting details Not available
9/26/2016*Rafael L. Espinal, Jr. Committee on Transportation Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
9/26/2016*Rafael L. Espinal, Jr. Committee on Transportation Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
9/26/2016*Rafael L. Espinal, Jr. Committee on Transportation Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
9/26/2016*Rafael L. Espinal, Jr. Committee on Consumer Affairs Laid Over by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
9/26/2016*Rafael L. Espinal, Jr. Committee on Consumer Affairs Amendment Proposed by Comm  Action details Meeting details Not available
9/26/2016*Rafael L. Espinal, Jr. Committee on Consumer Affairs Hearing Held by Committee  Action details Meeting details Not available
11/13/2014*Rafael L. Espinal, Jr. City Council Referred to Comm by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available
11/13/2014*Rafael L. Espinal, Jr. City Council Introduced by Council  Action details Meeting details Not available

Proposed Int. No. 529-A

 

By Council Members Espinal, Rodriguez, Richards, Chin, Constantinides, Johnson, Koo, Mendez, Barron, Rosenthal, Menchaca and Rose

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to strengthening the licensing requirements in the sight-seeing bus industry.

 

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

                     Section 1. Section 20-372 of subchapter 21 of chapter 2 of title 20 of the New York city administrative code is amended by adding a new subdivision 11 to read as follows:

                     11. "Sight-seeing bus driver" shall mean any natural person who operates a sight-seeing bus in the city of New York.

                     § 2. Subchapter 21 of chapter 2 of title 20 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 20-376.2 to read as follows:

                     § 20-376.2 Sight-seeing bus driver. a. It shall be unlawful for an owner of a sight-seeing bus company to employ any person as a sight-seeing bus driver unless that person:

1.  is at least 18 years of age;

2. possesses a valid motor vehicle driver license;

3. possesses a valid commercial driver license that is valid for the operation of such bus pursuant to the state vehicle and traffic law;

4. has not had their motor vehicle license or commercial driver license suspended or revoked two or more times within the past five years;

5. has not been convicted of three or more traffic infractions pursuant to the state vehicle and traffic law within the past three years; and

6. has not been convicted of any alcohol or drug-related offense pursuant to article 31 of the state vehicle and traffic law within the past three years.

b. An owner of a sight-seeing bus company shall provide the commissioner with a complete list of all sight-seeing bus drivers employed by the sight-seeing bus company in writing. Such list shall be provided at the time of application and renewal of the sight-seeing bus license, and shall be updated within five days after a new sight-seeing bus driver is hired or a sight-seeing bus driver leaves the company.

c. An owner of a sight-seeing bus company shall inform the commissioner of the details any accident or traffic infraction that involves one of the company’s a sight-seeing buses within five days of the incident. Such details shall include the identification of the sight-seeing bus driver involved in the incident, and whether or not the sight-seeing bus driver was at fault. 

d. An owner of a sight-seeing bus company shall not permit a sight-seeing bus driver to operate a sight-seeing bus for more than 12 hours of any continuous 24 hour period. The requirements of this subdivision shall not apply to a sight-seeing bus driver exclusively hired or engaged for a special trip or excursion. 

§ 3. This local law takes effect 120 days after it becomes law.

 

BG/RC/LUR

LS 2398/2014

9/19/2016 7:12 PM