June 29, 2006

One of Every Four Limos Inspected by County Police 
During Prom Season Had Safety or Licensing Issues

Police also confiscated 46 bottles of alcohol from passengers

More on prom safety at County Stop-DWI website

One out of every four limousines stopped by county police during the just-finished prom season were found to have safety or licensing problems.

The checks of 440 prom-bound limos and 56 buses were part of Westchester County’s annual “Prom Safety Patrols,” an initiative of County Executive Andy Spano designed to make sure prom revelers get to and from their destination safe and sober.

With funding from the county’s Stop-DWI office, the county Public Safety Department (in cooperation with local police departments) stopped limousines on their way to 65 proms in Westchester, beginning in May and concluding last week. The county’s Taxi and Limousine Commission (part of the Department of Public Safety) has told the limousine drivers that there is a no-tolerance policy for any underage drinking in the limousines and that drivers of limousines where drinking occurs could lose their licenses.

“The safety of all riders is at stake when limousines or drivers are not properly licensed,” said County Executive Andy Spano. “The good news is most companies and drivers act responsibly, particularly those that are based in Westchester. However, many of the out-of-county companies have not gotten the word that they better be in compliance with our laws. By hitting them in the pocketbook, perhaps they will wise up.”

In the course of the program this year:

• 46 bottles with alcohol were confiscated, including 31 open water bottles that actually contained alcohol.
   
• 440 limousines were inspected, of which 330 were found to be in complete compliance of the county’s Taxi and Limousine Commission laws and laws that bar underage drinking.
   
• 110 limousines were not in compliance.
   
• 447 TLC summonses were issued to companies, limousines and drivers for safety and licensing violations. Summonses included operating without required permits from Westchester or New York City; operating a vehicle with more seats than allowed by the registration; operating without the proper licensing. Fines range from $125 to $3,000.
   
• Six limousines were impounded for safety violations.
   
• 1 driver was arrested for operating with a suspended driver’s license and registration.

The most serious event of the prom season occurred May 26 when police officers from the county and New Rochelle stopped a limousine bound for the Fox Lane High School (Bedford) prom and found a 16-year-old girl passed out and unresponsive due to what turned out to be alcohol poisoning. Police got her and several classmates to the hospital and may have saved her life.