I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2956 

To establish safety standards for certain limousines, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 4, 2021 

Mr. TONKO (for himself, Mr. DELGADO, and Ms. STEFANIK) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To establish safety standards for certain limousines, and 

for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Safety, Accountability, 

5 and Federal Enforcement of Limos Act of 2021’’ or the 

6 ‘‘SAFE Limos Act’’. 

7 SEC. 2. LIMOUSINE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL SAFETY 

8 STANDARDS. 

9 (a) LIMOUSINE STANDARDS.— 

10 (1) SAFETY BELT AND SEATING SYSTEM

11 STANDARDS FOR LIMOUSINES.—Not later than 2 


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1 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

2 Secretary shall prescribe a final rule— 

3 (A) that amends Federal Motor Vehicle 

4 Safety Standard Numbers 208, 209, and 210 to 

5 require to be installed in limousines at each 

6 designated seating position, including on side7 facing seats— 

8 (i) an occupant restraint system con9 sisting of integrated lap shoulder belts; or 

10 (ii) an occupant restraint system con11 sisting of a lap belt if the occupant re12 straint system described in clause (i) does 

13 not meet the need for motor vehicle safety; 

14 and 

15 (B) that amends Federal Motor Vehicle 

16 Safety Standard Number 207 to require lim17 ousines to meet standards for seats (including 

18 side-facing seats), seat attachment assemblies, 

19 and seat installation to minimize the possibility 

20 of their failure by forces acting on them as a 

21 result of vehicle impact. 

22 (2) REPORT ON RETROFIT ASSESSMENT FOR

23 LIMOUSINES.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

24 of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 

25 submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 


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1 of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

2 on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

3 Senate a report that assesses the feasibility, bene4 fits, and costs with respect to the application of any 

5 requirement established under paragraph (1) to a 

6 limousine introduced into interstate commerce before 

7 the date on which the requirement takes effect. 

8 (b) SAFETY REGULATION OF LIMOUSINES.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 30102(a)(6) of title 

10 49, United States Code, is amended— 

11 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or’’ 

12 at the end; 

13 (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the 

14 period and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and 

15 (C) by adding at the end the following: 

16 ‘‘(C) modifying a passenger motor vehicle 

17 (as such term is defined in section 32101) that 

18 has already been purchased by the first pur19 chaser (as such term is defined in subsection 

20 (b)) by increasing the wheelbase of the vehicle 

21 so that the vehicle has increased seating capac22 ity.’’. 

23 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made 

24 by paragraph (1) shall apply beginning on the date 


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1 that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this 

2 Act. 

3 (c) LIMOUSINE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL SAFE4 TY STANDARDS.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 301 of title 49, 

6 United States Code, is amended by inserting after 

7 section 30128 the following: 

8 ‘‘§ 30129. Limousine compliance with Federal safety 

9 standards 

10 ‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Beginning on the date that is 

11 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section, a 

12 limousine remodeler may not offer for sale, lease, or rent, 

13 introduce or deliver for introduction into interstate com14 merce, or import into the United States a new limousine 

15 unless the limousine remodeler has submitted to the Sec16 retary a vehicle remodeler plan (or an updated vehicle re17 modeler plan required by subsection (b), as applicable) 

18 that describes how the remodeler is mitigating risks to 

19 motor vehicle safety posed by the limousines of the remod20 eler. A vehicle remodeler plan shall include the following: 

21 ‘‘(1) Verification and validation of compliance 

22 with applicable motor vehicle safety standards. 

23 ‘‘(2) Design, quality control, manufacturing, 

24 and training practices adopted by the limousine re25 modeler. 


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1 ‘‘(3) Customer support guidelines, including in2 structions for limousine occupants to wear seatbelts 

3 and limousine operators to notify occupants of the 

4 date and results of the most recent inspection of the 

5 limousine. 

6 ‘‘(b) UPDATES.—Each limousine remodeler shall sub7 mit an updated vehicle remodeler plan to the Secretary 

8 each year. 

9 ‘‘(c) PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.—The Secretary shall 

10 make any vehicle remodeler plan submitted under sub11 section (a) or (b) publicly available not later than 60 days 

12 after the date on which the plan is received, except the 

13 Secretary may not make publicly available any information 

14 relating to a trade secret or other confidential business 

15 information (as such terms are defined in section 512.3 

16 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor 

17 regulation)). 

18 ‘‘(d) REVIEW.—The Secretary may inspect any vehi19 cle remodeler plan submitted by a limousine remodeler 

20 under subsection (a) or (b) to enable the Secretary to de21 termine whether the limousine remodeler has complied, or 

22 is complying, with this chapter or a regulation prescribed 

23 or order issued pursuant to this chapter. 

24 ‘‘(e) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec25 tion may be construed to affect discovery, a subpoena or 


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1 other court order, or any other judicial process otherwise 

2 allowed under applicable Federal or State law. 

3 ‘‘(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following 

4 definitions apply: 

5 ‘‘(1) CERTIFIED PASSENGER MOTOR VEHI6 CLE.—The term ‘certified passenger motor vehicle’ 

7 means a passenger motor vehicle that has been cer8 tified in accordance with section 30115 to meet all 

9 applicable motor vehicle safety standards. 

10 ‘‘(2) INCOMPLETE VEHICLE.—The term ‘incom11 plete vehicle’ has the meaning given such term in 

12 section 567.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regula13 tions (or any successor regulation). 

14 ‘‘(3) LIMOUSINE.—The term ‘limousine’ means 

15 a motor vehicle— 

16 ‘‘(A) that has a seating capacity of 9 or 

17 more persons (including the driver); 

18 ‘‘(B) with a gross vehicle weight rating 

19 greater than 10,000 pounds but not greater 

20 than 26,000 pounds; and 

21 ‘‘(C) that the Secretary has determined by 

22 regulation has physical characteristics resem23 bling— 

24 ‘‘(i) a passenger car; 


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1 ‘‘(ii) a multipurpose passenger vehicle; 

2 or 

3 ‘‘(iii) a truck with a gross vehicle 

4 weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less. 

5 ‘‘(4) LIMOUSINE OPERATOR.—The term ‘lim6 ousine operator’ means a person who owns or leases, 

7 and uses, a limousine to transport passengers for 

8 compensation. 

9 ‘‘(5) LIMOUSINE REMODELER.—The term ‘lim10 ousine remodeler’ means a person who alters or 

11 modifies by addition, substitution, or removal of 

12 components (other than readily attachable compo13 nents) an incomplete vehicle, a vehicle manufactured 

14 in two or more stages, or a certified passenger motor 

15 vehicle before or after the first purchase of the vehi16 cle to manufacture a limousine. 

17 ‘‘(6) MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE.— 

18 The term ‘multipurpose passenger vehicle’ has the 

19 meaning given such term in section 571.3 of title 49, 

20 Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regu21 lation). 

22 ‘‘(7) PASSENGER CAR.—The term ‘passenger 

23 car’ has the meaning given such term in section 

24 571.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (or 

25 any successor regulation). 


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1 ‘‘(8) PASSENGER MOTOR VEHICLE.—The term 

2 ‘passenger motor vehicle’ has the meaning given 

3 such term in section 32101. 

4 ‘‘(9) TRUCK.—The term ‘truck’ has the mean5 ing given such term in section 571.3 of title 49, 

6 Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regu7 lation).’’. 

8 (2) ENFORCEMENT.—Section 30165(a)(1) of 

9 title 49, United States Code, is amended by insert10 ing ‘‘30129,’’ after ‘‘30127,’’. 

11 (3) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sec12 tions for subchapter II of chapter 301 of title 49, 

13 United States Code, is amended by inserting after 

14 the item relating to section 30128 the following: 

‘‘30129. Limousine compliance with Federal safety standards.’’. 

15 (d) LIMOUSINE CRASHWORTHINESS.— 

16 (1) RESEARCH.—Not later than 4 years after 

17 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

18 shall complete research into the development of 

19 motor vehicle safety standards for side impact pro20 tection, roof crush resistance, and air bag systems 

21 for the protection of occupants for limousines with 

22 alternative seating positions, including perimeter 

23 seating arrangements. 

24 (2) RULEMAKING OR REPORT.— 

25 (A) CRASHWORTHINESS STANDARDS.— 


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1 (i) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 

2 years after the completion of the research 

3 required under paragraph (1), except as 

4 provided in clause (ii), the Secretary shall 

5 prescribe a final motor vehicle safety 

6 standard, for the protection of occupants 

7 in limousines with alternative seating posi8 tions, for each of the following: 

9 (I) Side impact protection. 

10 (II) Roof crush resistance. 

11 (III) Air bag systems. 

12 (ii) REQUIREMENTS AND CONSIDER13 ATIONS.—The Secretary may only pre14 scribe a motor vehicle safety standard de15 scribed in clause (i) if the Secretary deter16 mines that such standard meets the re17 quirements and considerations set forth in 

18 subsections (a) and (b) of section 30111 of 

19 title 49, United States Code. 

20 (B) REPORT.—If the Secretary determines 

21 that a standard described in subparagraph 

22 (A)(i) does not meet the requirements and con23 siderations set forth in subsections (a) and (b) 

24 of section 30111 of title 49, United States 

25 Code, the Secretary shall publish in the Federal 


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1 Register and submit to the Committee on En2 ergy and Commerce of the House of Represent3 atives and the Committee on Commerce, 

4 Science, and Transportation of the Senate a re5 port describing the reasons for not prescribing 

6 such standard. 

7 (e) LIMOUSINE EVACUATION.— 

8 (1) RESEARCH.—Not later than 2 years after 

9 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

10 shall complete research into safety features and 

11 standards that aid evacuation in the event that one 

12 exit in the passenger compartment of a limousine is 

13 blocked. 

14 (2) STANDARDS.—Not later than 3 years after 

15 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

16 shall prescribe a final motor vehicle safety standard 

17 based on the results of the research under para18 graph (1). 

19 (f) LIMOUSINE INSPECTION DISCLOSURE.— 

20 (1) IN GENERAL.—A limousine operator may 

21 not introduce a limousine into interstate commerce 

22 unless the limousine operator has prominently dis23 closed in a clear and conspicuous notice, including 

24 on the website of the operator if the operator has a 

25 website, the following: 


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1 (A) The date of the most recent inspection 

2 of the limousine required under State or Fed3 eral law. 

4 (B) The results of the inspection. 

5 (C) Any corrective action taken by the lim6 ousine operator to ensure the limousine passed 

7 inspection. 

8 (2) FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION ENFORCE9 MENT.—The Federal Trade Commission shall en10 force this subsection in the same manner, by the 

11 same means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, 

12 and duties as though all applicable terms and provi13 sions of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 

14 U.S.C. 41 et seq.) were incorporated into and made 

15 a part of this subsection. Any person who violates 

16 this subsection shall be subject to the penalties and 

17 entitled to the privileges and immunities provided in 

18 the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et 

19 seq.). 

20 (3) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this sub21 section shall be construed to limit the authority of 

22 the Federal Trade Commission under any other pro23 vision of law. 


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1 (4) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This subsection shall 

2 take effect 180 days after the date of the enactment 

3 of this Act. 

4 (g) EVENT DATA RECORDERS FOR LIMOUSINES.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 

6 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 

7 shall prescribe a final motor vehicle safety standard 

8 requiring the use of event data recorders for lim9 ousines. 

10 (2) PRIVACY PROTECTIONS.—Any standard pre11 scribed under paragraph (1) pertaining to event data 

12 recorder information shall be consistent with the col13 lection and sharing requirements under the FAST 

14 Act (Public Law 114–94) and any other applicable 

15 law. 

16 (h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the following defi17 nitions apply: 

18 (1) EVENT DATA RECORDER.—The term ‘‘event 

19 data recorder’’ has the meaning given such term in 

20 section 563.5 of title 49, Code of Federal Regula21 tions (or any successor regulation). 

22 (2) LIMOUSINE.—The term ‘‘limousine’’ has the 

23 meaning given such term in section 30129 of title 

24 49, United States Code, as added by this section. 


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1 (3) LIMOUSINE OPERATOR.—The term ‘‘lim2 ousine operator’’ has the meaning given such term 

3 in section 30129 of title 49, United States Code, as 

4 added by this section. 

5 (4) LIMOUSINE REMODELER.—The term ‘‘lim6 ousine remodeler’’ has the meaning given such term 

7 in section 30129 of title 49, United States Code, as 

8 added by this section. 

9 (5) MOTOR VEHICLE.—The term ‘‘motor vehi10 cle’’ has the meaning given such term in section 

11 30102(a) of title 49, United States Code. 

12 (6) MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD.—The 

13 term ‘‘motor vehicle safety standard’’ has the mean14 ing given such term in section 30102(a) of title 49, 

15 United States Code. 

16 (7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

17 the Secretary of Transportation. 

18 (8) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the mean19 ing given such term in section 30102(a) of title 49, 

20 United States Code. 

Æ 


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