Bill > S3225

Introduced Session

This bill permits the testing and use of autonomous vehicles on the public highways, roads, and streets of this State. An autonomous vehicle may be operated on any highway, road, or street within this State for testing purposes by a driver who possesses the proper class of license, as determined by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (commission), for the type of vehicle being operated if: the autonomous vehicle is being operated on a public highway, road, or street in this State solely by employees, contractors, or other persons designated by the manufacturer of the autonomous technology; the operator is seated in the driver's seat, monitoring the safe operation of the autonomous vehicle, and capable of taking over immediate manual control of the autonomous vehicle in the event of an autonomous technology failure or other emergency; and, prior to the start of testing in this State, the manufacturer performing the testing obtains an instrument of insurance, surety bond, or proof of self-insurance in the amount of $5,000,000, and provides evidence of the insurance, surety bond, or self-insurance to the commission, in a form and manner determined by the commission. The bill requires the manufacturer of the autonomous technology to apply for and receive approval from the commission prior to operating an autonomous vehicle on a highway, road, or street in this State for testing purposes. The application is required to contain: a certification that the autonomous technology meets certain requirements; a certification that the manufacturer has tested the autonomous technology on private roads, lots, or tracks, or out-of-State public highways, roads, and streets, has complied with any other testing standards established by the commission; and a certification that the manufacturer will maintain a surety bond, or proof of self-insurance as specified in regulations adopted by the commission, in an amount of $5,000,000. The bill requires the manufacturer of the autonomous technology to provide a written disclosure to the purchaser of an autonomous vehicle that describes what information is collected by the autonomous technology.

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Robert Gordon (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Transportation Committee (on 05/18/2017)