The U.S. House has passed legislation designed to make it harder for terrorists to rent cars and trucks to use to carry out attacks. The bill, which passed, 379-51, is named for Darren Drake of New Milford, one of eight people killed in a 2017 terrorist attack in New York City. Officials said Sayfullo Saipov, an Uzbek national who gave a Paterson address to authorities, used a rented truck to mow down people on a Manhattan bike path.
It would require the Department of Homeland Security Department to develop guidelines to help car rental agencies and automotive dealerships to help identify people who might want the vehicle to commit a terrorist attack, and to require the companies to report suspicious behavior.
“This crucial legislation will provide rental companies and car dealers with the vital information they need to flag and stop potential terrorist threats in their tracks,” said the bill’s chief sponsor, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist., when the bill was debated last month.
“We can take no chances when it comes to terrorism, which is why this bill will help ensure all rental companies report suspicious behavior at every point of sale,” the New Jersey Democrat said.
This is the third straight Congress in which Gottheimer has introduced legislation but the first time his bill reached the House floor for a vote. There is no Senate sponsor.
Drake was 32 when he was killed while biking during a work break. He graduated from Rutgers in 2007 with a degree in political science. He earned a master’s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and was working toward a second master’s at Stevens Institute of Technology.
