Charter-party carriers: limousines: emergency exits.

(1) The Passenger Charter-party Carriers' Act, with certain exceptions, prohibits a charter-party carrier of passengers from engaging in transportation services subject to regulation by the Public Utilities Commission without obtaining a specified certificate or permit, as appropriate, from the commission, and imposes various other requirements. Existing law imposes certain penalties for violation of the act. The act also defines a "limousine" for these purposes and imposes specified requirements applicable only to the operator or driver of a limousine. Existing law imposes various additional requirements on the operator of a limousine for hire. A violation of these requirements is a crime. This bill would prohibit any person from operating in any city, county, or city and county, a limousine that has been modified or extended for purposes of increasing vehicle length in an amount sufficient to accommodate additional passengers unless the limousine is equipped with at least 2 rear side doors and one or 2 rear windows that the rear seat passengers or all passengers of the vehicle may open from the inside of the vehicle in case of any fire or other emergency, as specified. The bill would apply these provisions to all limousines that were modified or extended for purposes of increasing vehicle length in an amount sufficient to accommodate additional passengers on or after July 1, 2015, and, beginning January 1, 2016, to all limousines modified or extended for purposes of increasing vehicle length in an amount sufficient to accommodate additional passengers prior to July 1, 2015, except as specified. The bill would require the driver of the limousine, in the case of any fire or other emergency, as specified, to unlock the doors so that the rear side doors can be opened from the inside of the vehicle and would require an owner or operator of a limousine to instruct all passengers on the safety features of the vehicle prior to the beginning of any trip and to disclose whether the limousine meets the safety requirements described in this bill. (2) Because the bill would create new crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.