Darren Drake Act Will Try To End Vehicle-Based Terror Attacks

NEW MILFORD, NJ — A bill proposed by Rep. Josh Gottheimer would help identify vehicle-rental customers whom authorities flag for terrorism-related activities.

Gottheimer plans to introduce the Darren Drake Act this week. It is named after a borough terror attack victim who was killed on Oct. 31, 2017. Drake and several others were riding their bikes and killed when Sayfullo Saipov allegedly drove a van rented at a Passaic County Home Depot store down a bike path on the West Side Highway in New York City in an ISIS-inspired attack, authorities said.

The legislation would, if approved, require the Department of Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration to provide rental companies with the information they need to "flag and stop a potential threat," a press release issued by Gottheimer's congressional office states.

The legislation would create a list similar to the federal Transportation Security Administration's No-Fly List. Gottheimer's office did not provide what specific information would be shared.

Similar legislation Gottheimer introduced last year would have required the business to provide authorities with the person's name, home address, driver's license number and the vehicle's registration, make, model and license plate. Information would be shared with the FBI and the National Counterterrorism Center.

"Just like how the TSA checks passenger information against the no-fly list, helping stop a terrorist from boarding a plane, law enforcement will know if a potential terrorist has attempted to rent a vehicle capable of a mass terrorist attack," Gottheimer said in the press release.

Drake, former president of the New Milford Board of Education, was a project manager for Moody's and often rode his bike on the path. He graduated from New Milford High School in 2003. His parents, Jimmy and Barbara, attended an announcement Gottheimer made regarding the legislation Monday.

"I hope this bill will save lives, so that everyone across the country can be safe from attacks," Jimmy Drake said.

According to Gottheimer's office, from 2014 to 2017, at least 17 known vehicle-based terror attacks were carried out worldwide, resulting in 173 fatalities and 667 injuries.

Related:

• Anti-Terror Act Named After New Milford's Darren Drake Announced
• Dad Of New Milford Terror Victim To Attend State Of The Union
• NYC Terror Latest: Attacker Followed ISIS Instructions, NYPD Says
• 'Good Man With A Huge Heart': Friends Remember NYC Terror Victim
• New Milford Terror Victim Mourned At Funeral

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com