Newsday: Suffolk County officials warn passengers about illegal limo services, taxis and party buses

Suffolk County officials warn passengers about illegal limo services, taxis and party buses

By Dylan Murphy and Aidan Johnson Updated June 11, 2025 8:04 pm

Suffolk County officials are sounding the alarm on illegal limousine, taxi and party bus services as Long Islanders prepare for the wedding season and other summer activities.
In a news conference on Wednesday, Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine explained how consumers can tell the difference between legitimate ride services and fraudulent drivers who may not have the proper insurance and certifications.

Vehicles that are certified by the county feature a red diamond in the window and have “T & LC” “LIVERY” or “BUS” written at the bottom of their license plate, said Tom Gouldsbury, the president of the Long Island Limousine Association, one of the speakers at the news conference outside the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge.

Illegal ride services carry several risks for consumers because underinsured drivers do not have the $1 million or more in liability coverage that licensed providers do.
“If you … get into an accident and something bad happens and you rely on that person’s or company’s insurance to pay for your injuries or the damage to any vehicles, you are going to be on the hook for that,” said Legis. Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst), “because I guarantee you there’ll be a gap in what you need.”

Unlicensed drivers may also modify the vehicle in ways that fail to prioritize the safety of its passengers, Suffolk County Chief of Patrol Gerard Hardy said.
In a 2018 limousine crash in Schoharie, a town 30 miles west of Albany, that left 20 people dead, state officials found the vehicle, a Ford Excursion altered into a stretch limo, had failed inspection several times and the driver did not have the appropriate license.

On Long Island, a limousine crash in 2015 killed four women after the driver attempted to make a K-turn at a notoriously dangerous Cutchogue intersection. The families of the victims reached a $6.1 million settlement with the limo company, the driver, the vehicle customizer and the Town of Southold in 2023. They have been a driving force behind statewide limousine safety reforms.

“I think the smartest thing anybody can do is if you’re going to get a limo, call” the Department of Labor, Licensing and Consumer Affairs, said Wayne Roger, the department’s commissioner.
To combat the rise of illegal transport operators over the summer, police will ramp up compliance checks, Hardy said.

“Alarmingly, the things we’re seeing in these checks is unlicensed operators, uninsured motor vehicles, vehicles with damaged frames and inoperable safety exits,” he said.
Long Island Limousine Association board member Joe Marotta said in order to become a certified limo driver, a class E license must be obtained from the DMV; a standard class D license allows people to drive cars, SUVs, trucks and vans.

“Then you’re going to have to go through a little bit of a training program, and then [be approved] by the insurance company based on your driving record and your history,” Marotta said.
Ride-share services, such as Uber and Lyft, do not fall under the jurisdiction of Suffolk County, and have their own vetting processes, Rogers said.
Uber and Lyft will show customers a photo of their driver, along with their license plate number and type of vehicle, in order to confirm that they are the correct driver.

https://www.newsday.com/long-island/transportation/limo-taxis-buses-illegal-emb2uv93