S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8590
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
July 10, 2017
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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 opera-
tion 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 ASSEM-
BLY, 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 VEHI-
CLE THAT HAS THE CAPABILITY TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON WHICH THE TECHNOLOGY
IS INSTALLED WITHOUT THE ACTIVE CONTROL OR MONITORING BY A HUMAN OPERA-
TOR. 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 noti-
fy the legislative bill drafting commission of the date of such declara-
tion 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.