Bill > S756

This bill, known as the Swift Access For Emergency Response Actions Preservation Program (SAFER APP), authorizes the Attorney General to order turn-by-turn navigation systems to reroute vehicular traffic under specific emergency conditions. The legislation addresses situations where navigation apps are causing excessive traffic on residential or local roads not designed for high-volume traffic, which can impede emergency vehicle access and increase safety risks. Under the bill, an "emergency traffic condition" is defined as a recurring period of traffic that materially interferes with emergency response or endangers public safety, such as significant traffic diversion from highways to local roads or substantiated delays in emergency vehicle response times. Municipalities can request the Attorney General to investigate potential traffic issues, and if determined to be problematic, the Attorney General can order navigation system operators to redirect traffic. Navigation system operators who fail to comply with these directives can be fined between $1,000 and $5,000 per day. The bill requires the Attorney General to review these traffic rerouting directives at least annually, with each directive lasting no more than 12 months, and mandates a report to the Governor and Legislature within 24 months assessing the implementation and public safety impact of these rerouting measures. Importantly, the bill does not restrict physical road access but provides a targeted framework for managing digital routing during emergency conditions.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S756