NYS Lawmakers Approve Charter Bus Seat Belt Use

ALBANY — The New York State Legislature approved a bill Thursday requiring most passengers use seatbelts on charter buses, according to a state website. Gov. Kathy Hochul will now decide to pass or veto the law.

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.

The bill was prompted by a fatal crash that killed two Farmingdale High School educators in September.

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.

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.

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

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.