A measure that seeks to improve limousine safety in the state of California has been signed by the Governor, although he has opted out of signing one other bill until the language can be reworked in such a way so as not to cause budget woes.
The bill that did acquire a signature was Senate Bill 109, which forces limos produced after July 2015 to come equipped with additional exits that persons inside can use in the event of an emergency. And rather than simply picking up passengers and transporting them to their destinations without a word, drivers will be required to inform all those onboard of the features in place designed to offer protection and swift egress during an emergency.
It was one such emergency ending in tragedy earlier this year that prompted the bill in the first place. This past May, five people were killed on the San Mateo-Hayward bridge after being unable to escape a limo when the vehicle caught fire.
The governor stopped short of signing Senate Bill 338, citing concerns about the cost. That measure tasked the California Highway Patrol with carrying out inspections on limousines. The annual service was to be paid for with a $75 fee billed to the operator, but the Governor believed that this number was not sufficient for the service. He hopes that lawmakers will create a new bill with a more realistic charge that he can sign in January.