NYS Bill To Require Seatbelts On Buses After Farmingdale HS Crash

ALBANY, NY — Most passengers in charter buses may need to wear safety belts or face fines because of a NYS bill prompted by a fatal crash that killed two Farmingdale High School educators in September.

The bill would require charter bus passengers 8 or older to use safety restraints or face a $50 fine, while police could ticket the parents of passengers between 8 and 15 if the parent or guardian was around when the violation occurred.

Gina Pellettiere, 43, of Massapequa, and Beatrice "Bea" Ferrari, 77, of Farmingdale, were killed in a charter bus crash on Sept. 21 when they and the Farmingdale High School marching band were headed to their annual band camp in Greeley, Pennsylvania. Their bus overturned on Interstate 84 in Orange County and tumbled down a 50-foot ravine.

"Seatbelts save lives and this legislation will prevent further loss of life in crashes involving charter buses," the New York State Senate wrote in its justification.

The justification directly named the Farmingdale High School bus crash.

"Tragically, two adult chaperones on the trip were fatally injured," the state senate wrote. "This and other recent charter bus crashes show the importance of wearing seatbelts in motor vehicles."

Federal law requires charter buses have seatbelts installed but does not require that they be used. States currently decide the use of seatbelts.

Many students and co-workers mourned Pellettiere and Ferrari following the tragedy, while many in the Farmingdale community stepped up to help Pellettiere's orphaned son, Joseph, who was 2 years old when his mother died.

The bill defines a charter bus as a bus manufactured or assembled on or after Nov. 28, 2016 transporting passengers for compensation in a chartered party.

The legislation was modeled on other laws passed in New York that expanded seatbelt use to stretch limousines, taxis and livery vehicles.