Deadly Limousine Crash in New York Raising Concerns For Safety Of Local Limo Companies

CHARLOTTE, NC. — The deadly limousine crash in New York is raising concerns about the safety of local limousine companies.

Shannon Gaines never thought to question the safety of limos until now. His 15-year-old son may take one to homecoming.

“You know it’s my kids, so I would defiantly be more cautious about what’s going on and their safety,” says Gaines, a West Charlotte resident.

Joe owns Bada Bing Limo Service in Charlotte. He says you need to make sure the limo has a license plate that says “For Hire”. That means the limo company has a business license and commercial insurance liability policy.

“I’m required to carry $1.5 million in liability insurance,” says Joe.

The highway patrol says there are several questions you need to ask:

-Who Are You Insured By?
– What Are Consequences For Drivers Who Wreck?
-Are Safe Driving Records Required?

The City of Charlotte requires limo drivers to submit their driving records for the past 10 years and provide two character affidavits to CMPD’s Passenger Vehicles for Hire office.

Drivers are also fingerprinted by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office. All that information is submitted to the FBI for a background check.

The PVH office inspects limos and other vehicles for hire, once a year.