Plain English Breakdown
The official text states the bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, but the effective date is not provided in the source material.
Rules for Who Gets Tickets When Self-Driving Cars Break Traffic Laws
This law sets rules on whether the driver, owner, or manufacturer receives a traffic ticket when an autonomous vehicle breaks a rule.
What This Bill Does
- Requires that if no person sits in the driver's seat and the car breaks a law, the registered owner gets the citation unless it is a Level 4 or 5 vehicle.
- Mandates that citations for traffic violations by Level 4 or 5 autonomous vehicles go to the manufacturer of the technology when the system is active or no one is driving.
- States that if a person sits in the driver's seat and breaks a law while the self-driving feature is off, the driver receives the citation regardless of vehicle level.
- Requires citations for Level 3 autonomous vehicles with a driver present to go to the driver first, but allows the court to shift blame to the manufacturer if the technology caused the violation.
- Allows traffic tickets issued under these rules to be sent by mail instead of being handed directly at the scene.
Who It Names or Affects
- Drivers operating autonomous vehicles with a person in the driver's seat
- Registered owners of self-driving cars without a human driver present or those acting as permitted passenger transport services where customers are not in control
- Manufacturers who build Level 3, 4, or 5 autonomous vehicle technology
Terms To Know
- Autonomous Vehicle
- A car that can drive itself using special computer systems and sensors.
- Level 3, 4, or 5
- Categories describing how much a vehicle relies on technology to drive without human help; higher numbers mean more self-driving ability.
- Citation
- An official ticket given for breaking a traffic law that may include a fine or penalty.
Limits and Unknowns
- The text does not specify the exact dollar amounts of fines associated with these citations.
- The bill describes how to contest tickets but does not detail every step of the court process for doing so.
- The effective date is listed as blank, meaning it is unclear when these rules officially begin.