Bill > B26-0684

This bill amends the Autonomous Vehicle Act of 2012 to establish a Commercial Autonomous Vehicles Program within the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), allowing certain self-driving vehicles to transport passengers and goods for commercial purposes. Applicants for a commercial autonomous vehicle (AV) permit must submit detailed planning documents, reports, and data to DDOT, including a first responder interaction plan and a continuity of operations plan. The bill specifies when an autonomous driving system can be engaged, outlines significant application and permit fees, and establishes a vehicle miles traveled tax of $0.15 per mile for commercial AV operations. It also mandates that manufacturers of autonomous driving systems (ADS manufacturers) register their products with DDOT, requiring them to maintain substantial liability insurance and be considered the operator for civil liability and traffic infractions when their systems are engaged, with a presumption of engagement if vehicle data logs indicate it was active within 30 seconds of an incident. Furthermore, the bill creates the Autonomous Vehicle Deployment Fund, which will receive revenue from application fees, permit fees, the new vehicle miles traveled tax, and other fines, with 50% of the remaining funds dedicated to public transit and 50% to workforce development programs for displaced ride-share drivers. The bill also details penalties for noncompliance and establishes an appeals process through the Office of Administrative Hearings.