The New York Senate recently passed new legislation (Bill No. S5171B) which requires a criminal background check for drivers operating a New York Charter Bus. The new bill is in response to a growing number of recent fatal bus accidents within the NYC area.
On March 12, 2011, 15 passengers were killed in a bus crash in the Bronx. On May 7, 2011, a NYC Tour bus driver allegedly struck and killed a man in Manhattan. Both drivers had previous criminal convictions.
Senate Bill S5171B was co-sponsored by both William J. Larkin Jr. and Charles Fuschillo and passed in the Senate on June 2, 2011. The Bill is currently being reviewed by the NY State Assembly.
If passed, all new charter bus drivers will be required to submit to a criminal background check and existing drivers would face similar mandates when renewing their commercial driver’s license.
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