Limousines are often the preferred method of travel for prom-goers celebrating the end of high school, but the state of Virginia has been cracking down on prom season, making sure teenagers are safe from falsely documented limousine drivers and companies.
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has paired up with local law enforcement and the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) across the state to ensure that limousine companies and drivers are safely and legally chauffeuring teenagers to their proms. Officials carried out surprise inspections at high school proms statewide, asking limousine drivers to produce paperwork proving they meet safety criteria.
“They [drivers] have to have their paperwork with them,” said Matt Loiacono, owner of Alexus Limousines based in Maryland. “You have to show registration when you pull up at the prom.”
At the Lake Braddock Secondary School prom in Reston, June 16, Fairfax County Police officers stationed themselves at the limousine drop-off zone, checking each and every car that pulled away. Officers at the scene said they were looking for any signs of illegal operations, including improper drivers licenses, insurance coverage, Virginia operating authority and alcohol violations. One car was found to have crammed more than 20 students into a 15-person limousine, said Mark Purdy, Lake Braddock senior class sponsor.
“If you ask me, I would not want to pay a lot for a limo only to have people sitting on my lap,” said Purdy.
School resource officers alerted prom committees at their respective schools of the random inspections and resources for parents to choose safe companies. Purdy said he notified students and parents on the school Web site in the weeks prior to the prom to make sure they researched limousine companies thoroughly before making a selection. Students were also made aware of the state’s DMV Web site, which has a link to a list of registered and insured limousine companies licensed to do business in Virginia, including a seven-step process for choosing a limousine.
“Your paperwork has to be in an impeccable order,” said Loiacono.
ONE OF THE RED flags, said Loiacono, is choosing a Maryland limousine company without Virginia operating authority. Only a small number of out-of-state companies have paid the state for operating licenses, so it is especially important to check for this when going with a Maryland-based limousine service. Loiacono said his company has had authority for years, but he often hears of Maryland drivers getting caught for illegally driving passengers from point-to-point within Virginia. The same operating authority is still required for Virginia-based companies, but it’s safer to assume more of them carry it since many operate solely within the state, said Loiacono.
“There is no prohibition on people operating here,” said Sgt. Pat Wimberly, Fairfax County Police traffic division supervisor. “The prohibition is they have to be properly certified and it costs money.”
In addition to state operating authority, limousines must have for-hire license tags, or “H-tags.” Each driver also must carry the adequate amount of insurance coverage and passenger-carrying authority. When limousines carry more than 16 people, including the driver, a commercial driver’s license and a federally issued medical card are necessary, said Wimberly.
This was the fourth prom season that Fairfax County Police officers assisted the state in the random limousine inspections. This year, about 700 inspections took place statewide, and 35 percent of those limousines were issued violations and immediately taken out of service, said Wimberly. The county found five alcohol violations in its random inspections. Limousines are not permitted to carry alcohol in their conveyance unless the passenger brings it on and keeps it in his or her possession. Since the passengers in prom-bound limousines are all under 21, alcohol was not allowed in any limousine for any reason, said Kristy Smith, ABC spokesperson.
During the 2005 prom season, officials inspected 395 limousines and issued 119 summonses in the state, said Bill Foy, DMV spokesperson.
“Our random, unannounced inspections are an important way to help identify carriers who could potentially jeopardize the safety of Virginia’s teens,” said D.B. Smit, DMV commissioner.