What's happening
This bill allows operation of autonomous vehicles on public highways by licensed drivers and certain learners under supervision, with defined penalties and a sunset clause.
Why it matters
Establishes clear definitions for "autonomous technology" and "autonomous vehicle,". distinguishing fully self-driving systems from common driver-assist features. This matters because it sets the legal groundwork for regulating advanced vehicle technology, ensuring only genuinely autonomous vehicles are covered.
Expands legal operation of autonomous vehicles to licensed drivers and certain learners under strict supervision,. allowing broader access while maintaining public safety. This could accelerate adoption and real-world testing of autonomous vehicles, potentially impacting transportation options and road safety.
Imposes specific penalties for unsupervised operation by underage or improperly supervised learners,. providing a deterrent and reinforcing the importance of oversight during early adoption phases. This safeguards against misuse while the technology and regulatory frameworks mature.
Includes a sunset clause that ties continuation to safety assessments,. meaning the law will automatically expire after six years or sooner if state authorities declare autonomous technology safe for unsupervised learners. This creates a built-in review process, ensuring that expanded access only continues if it proves to be safe in practice.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Autonomous Cars on Roads
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Enacting clause stricken
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8590
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
July 10, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. SEPULVEDA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the operation of motor vehicles with autonomous technology; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding two new sections 100-e and 100-f to read as follows:
§ 100-e. Autonomous technology. Technology installed on a motor vehicle that has the capability to drive the vehicle on which the technology is installed without the active control or monitoring by a human operator. Such term excludes a motor vehicle enabled with active safety systems or driver assistance systems, including, without limitation, a system to provide electronic blind spot assistance, crash avoidance, emergency braking, parking assistance, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assistance, lane departure warning, or traffic jam and queuing assistant, unless any such system alone or in combination with other systems enables the motor vehicle on which the technology is installed to drive without the active control or monitoring by a human operator.
§ 100-f. Autonomous vehicle. A motor vehicle equipped with autonomous technology.
§ 2. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 507-a to read as follows:
§ 507-a. Operation of autonomous vehicles. 1. Any person who holds a class D license or its equivalent may operate an autonomous vehicle upon a public highway.
2. Any person who holds a class DJ learner's permit or license or its equivalent may operate an autonomous vehicle upon a public highway when the person is under the immediate supervision and control of either a person at least eighteen years of age or a person who holds a license
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10013-03-7
A. 8590 2
valid in this state, unless there is a medical emergency which requires the operation of the autonomous vehicle without the supervision of a person at least eighteen years of age or a person who holds a license valid in this state.
3. Any person who holds a class DJ learner's permit or license or its equivalent who violates subdivision two of this section shall have his or her learner's permit or license suspended for a period of sixty days pursuant to section five hundred ten-c of this title.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law, and shall expire and be deemed repealed either 6 years after such date or upon a statement from the governor's traffic safety committee which declares autonomous technology safe enough for class DJ learner's permit or license holders to operate an autonomous vehicle without the supervision of a person at least 18 years of age or a person who holds a license valid in this state, whichever occurs first; provided that the governor's traffic safety committee shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission of the date of such declaration in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.