Bill Summaries: H469 (2017-2018 Session)

Tracking:
  • Summary date: Jul 25 2017 - View summary

    AN ACT TO REGULATE THE OPERATION OF FULLY AUTONOMOUS MOTOR VEHICLES ON THE PUBLIC HIGHWAYS OF THIS STATE. Enacted July 21, 2017. Effective December 1, 2017.


  • Summary date: Jun 26 2017 - View summary

    Senate amendment makes the following changes to the 4th edition.

    Amends proposed GS 20-401 (Regulation of fully autonomous vehicles). Amends subsection (g), providing that unless an exception or exemption (was, unless an exemption) has been granted under applicable State or federal law, a fully autonomous vehicle may be operated if it meets the currently listed requirements. Amends the currently listed requirements to require that the vehicle complies with applicable federal law and regulations (was, applicable federal law), and replaces the current requirement for compliance with applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards with a requirement that the vehicle has been certified in accordance with federal regulations in 49 CFR Part 567 as being in compliance with applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards and bears the required certification label or labels.


  • Summary date: Jun 20 2017 - View summary

    Senate committee substitute makes the following changes to the 3rd edition.

    Enacts new GS 20-403, establishing the 18-member Fully Autonomous Vehicle Committee (Committee) within the Department of Transportation (DOT) to consider matters related to fully autonomous vehicle technology, review relevant motor vehicle laws, make recommendations on the testing of fully autonomous vehicles, identify and make recommendations on traffic rules and ordinances, and make recommendations to the General Assembly on changes to State law. Sets out membership requirements, require the Committee to meet at least four times a year, and requires the DOT to provide staff and meeting space from reasonably available resources.


  • Summary date: Jun 14 2017 - View summary

    Senate committee substitute makes the following changes to the 2nd edition.

    Deletes the proposed changes to GS 20-4.01(25), GS 20-8, GS 20-49(4), GS 20-57, GS 20-135.2A(c), GS 20-135.2B(a), GS 20-137.1, GS 20-163, GS 20-166, and GS 20-166.1.

    Changes the Article number of the proposed new Article 17, Regulation of Fully Autonomous Vehicles, to Article 18 of GS Chapter 20. Changes the numbering of the statutes in the proposed Article. 

    Modifies and adds to the definitions set forth that apply to the Article in new GS 20-400 (was, GS 20-399). Now defines automated driving system as the hardware and software that are collectively capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task on a sustained basis, regardless of whether they are operating within a limited or unlimited operational design domain (was, regardless of whether they are limited to a specific operational design domain). Now defines dynamic driving task to mean all of the real-time operational and tactical control functions required to operate a motor vehicle in motion or which has the engine running (was, and tactical control functions required to operate a vehicle in on-road traffic, excluding strategic functions such as trip scheduling and the selection of destinations and waypoints), such as the previously specified examples. Now defines fully autonomous vehicle to mean a motor vehicle equipped with an automated driving system that will not at any time require an occupant to perform any portion of the dynamic driving task when the automated driving system is engaged. Adds that if equipment that allows an occupant to perform any portion of the dynamic driving task is installed, it must be stowed or made unusable in a manner that an occupant cannot assume control of the vehicle when the automated driving system is engaged (substantively similar to the previous definition). Now defines minimal risk condition to mean an operating mode in which a fully autonomous vehicle with the automated driving system engaged achieves a reasonably safe state, bringing the vehicle to a complete stop, upon experiencing a failure of the automatic driving system that renders the vehicle unable to perform any portion of the dynamic driving task (was, a low-risk operating mode in which a fully autonomous vehicle operating without a human driver achieves a reasonably safe state, such as bringing the vehicle to a complete stop, upon experiencing a failure of the vehicle's automated driving system that renders the vehicle unable to perform the entire dynamic driving task). Deletes the term semi-autonomous vehicle. Adds three new defined terms: operator, operational design domain, and strategic driving functions

    Modifies and adds to new GS 20-401 (was, GS 20-400), Regulation of fully autonomous vehicles. Makes organizational changes. Adds seven new subsections. Establishes that the operator of a fully autonomous vehicle with the automated driving system engaged in not required to be licensed to operate a motor vehicle. Provides that for a fully autonomous vehicle, the provisions of GS 20-49(4) and GS 20-57(c) are satisfied if the vehicle registration card is in the vehicle, physically or electronically, and readily available to be inspected by an officer or inspector. Establishes that the parent or legal guardian of a minor is responsible for a violation of GS 20-135.2B, the prohibition on children in an open bed of a pickup, or GS 20-137.1, the child restraint law, if the violation occurs in a fully autonomous vehicle. Sets the minimum age for unsupervised minors in fully autonomous vehicles at 12 years old. Provides that a person in whose name the fully autonomous vehicle is registered is responsible for a moving violation if the violation involves a fully autonomous vehicle. Clarifies that a vehicle cannot be considered unattended pursuant to GS 20-163 or any other provision of GS Chapter 20 merely because it is a fully autonomous vehicle with the automated driving system engaged. Sets forth four conditions that if met when a fully autonomous vehicle is involved in a crash, then the provisions of subsections (a) through (c2) and subsection (e) of GS 20-166, and subsections (a) and (c) of GS 20-166.1 must be considered satisfied and no violation of those provisions can be charged. The conditions include the vehicle or operator promptly contacting the appropriate law enforcement agency and promptly calling for medical assistance if appropriate, and specific criteria for the vehicle remaining at the scene until vehicle registration and insurance information is provided to the parties affected depending on whether the crash is reportable or non-reportable. 

    Modifies previous subsection (a), now subsection (g), to provide that a person can operate a fully autonomous vehicle if the vehicle meets the specified requirements. Modifies those five requirements as follows. Makes organizational changes to the first requirement, and adds that the vehicle must comply with applicable federal law. Also adds compliance with Article 11 of GS Chapter 20 to the requirement. Further, specifies entities by whom the vehicle can be certified as being in compliance with applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards. Changes the second requirement to require the vehicle to have the capability to meet the requirements of subsection (f) of the statute (concerning the duty to stop in the event of a crash; previously, required to meet the requirements of GS 20-166(c3) and GS 20-166.1(c1)). Changes the fifth requirement to require that if the vehicle is registered in this State, the vehicle must be identified on the registration and registration card (previously, did not include registration card) as a fully autonomous vehicle.  Modifies previous subsection (b), now subsection (h), to expressly preempt local governments from enacting any law or ordinance related to the regulation or operation of fully autonomous vehicles or vehicles equipped with an automated driving system (previously, did not include fully autonomous vehicles), other than regulation specifically authorized in GS Chapter 153A and GS Chapter 160A that is not specifically related to those types of motor vehicles (was, except for vehicle-related regulation specifically authorized in those statutes).

    Deletes the language of new GS 20-402 (was, GS 20-401) concerning vehicles other than fully autonomous vehicles, and instead expressly provides that operation of a motor vehicle equipped with an automated driving system capable of performing the entire dynamic driving task with the expectation that a human operator will respond appropriately to a request to intervene is lawful under the Chapter, and subject to the provisions of the Chapter. Defines a request to intervene to mean notification by a vehicle to the human operator that the operator should promptly begin or resume performance of part or all of the dynamic driving task. 


  • Summary date: Apr 24 2017 - View summary

    House committee substitute makes the following changes to the 1st edition.

    Amends GS 20-4.01 to amend the definition of operator to no longer include causing a fully autonomous vehicle to "travel" with the automated driving system.

    Amends proposed GS 20-399 to amend the definition of fully autonomous vehicle and to define semi-autonomous vehicle (vehicles with autonomous components that either require or permit a human to perform part or all of the dynamic driving task at any time).

    Amends proposed GS 20-400 (Regulation of fully autonomous vehicle). Authorizes local governments to enact local laws or ordinances regulating motor vehicles with automated driving systems to the extent vehicle regulation is specifically authorized in GS Chapters 153A and 160A, but maintains prohibitions on any other kind of regulation of motor vehicles with automated driving systems.

    Replaces new GS 20-401, now providing that this subchapter (probably intends new GS Chapter 20, Article 17) does not affect, alter, or amend the ability to operate a vehicle with an automated driving system that is not a fully autonomous vehicle.


  • Summary date: Mar 23 2017 - View summary

    Identical to S 337, filed 3/21/17.

    Amends GS 20-4.01 to revise the definition of operator to include persons who cause fully autonomous vehicles to move or travel with the automated driving system engaged.

    Amends GS 20-8 to exempt fully autonomous vehicles with the automatic driving system engaged and their operators from GS Chapter 20, Article 2 (Uniform Driver's License Act).

    Amends GS 20-49 to provide that fully autonomous vehicles with an engaged automated driving system satisfy the requirement to exhibit a registration card if the card is in the vehicle, or available online, and readily available to be inspected by an officer or inspector. Makes conforming changes to GS 20-57.

    Amends GS 20-57 to require a registration card for a fully autonomous vehicle to contain information required under new GS 20-400(a)(5).

    Amends GS 20-135.2A to exempt fully autonomous vehicles with an automated driving system engaged from seat belt requirements.

    Amends GS 20-135.2B and GS 20-137.1 to make the parent or guardian of a child responsible for compliance with the prohibition on transporting children under the age of 16 in the bed or cargo area of a fully autonomous vehicle with an automatic driving system engaged, and the requirement that a passenger less than 16 years old be properly secured with a child restraint system or seat belt. Exempts the parents or legal guardians of passengers who do not comply with the seat belt requirement from the penalty of two driver's license points.

    Amends GS 20-163 to exempt fully autonomous vehicles with an automatic driving system engaged from the prohibition on unattended motor vehicles with an engine running.

    Amends GS 20-166 and GS 20-166.1 to provide that fully autonomous vehicles with an automatic driving system engaged are considered compliant with the requirements to stop in the event of a crash if the vehicle remains on the scene of the crash, and the vehicle or the person responsible for the vehicle promptly contacts a law enforcement agency and communicates the required information. Holds the owner of the vehicle responsible for violations of this requirement.

    Enacts new GS Chapter 20, Article 17 (Regulation of Fully Autonomous Vehicles). New GS 20-399 defines five terms, including fully autonomous vehicle and automated driving system. New GS 20-400 creates five requirements for the operation of a fully autonomous vehicle with an automated driving system engaged without a human driver present in the vehicle, including being covered by a motor vehicle liability policy. Provides that no local government may enact a law or ordinance regulating fully autonomous vehicles and their operation.

    Makes technical and conforming changes.

    Effective December 1, 2017.