Bill Text: FL S1066 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Autonomous Vehicles

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2017-05-05 - Died in Transportation [S1066 Detail]

Download: Florida-2017-S1066-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2017                                    SB 1066
       
       
        
       By Senator Brandes
       
       
       
       
       
       24-00603A-17                                          20171066__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to autonomous vehicles; amending s.
    3         316.85, F.S.; authorizing a person to engage
    4         autonomous technology to operate an autonomous vehicle
    5         in autonomous mode; providing that autonomous
    6         technology is deemed to be the operator of an
    7         autonomous vehicle operating in autonomous mode for
    8         purposes of determining compliance with traffic and
    9         motor vehicle laws; providing construction and
   10         applicability with respect to specific statutory
   11         provisions; amending s. 319.145, F.S.; conforming
   12         provisions to changes made by the act; providing an
   13         effective date.
   14          
   15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   16  
   17         Section 1. Section 316.85, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   18  read:
   19         316.85 Autonomous vehicles; operation; compliance with
   20  traffic and motor vehicle laws.—
   21         (1) A person who possesses a valid driver license may
   22  operate an autonomous vehicle, or may engage autonomous
   23  technology to operate an autonomous vehicle in autonomous mode,
   24  on roads in this state if the vehicle is equipped with
   25  autonomous technology, as defined in s. 316.003.
   26         (2) For purposes of determining compliance with all
   27  applicable traffic and motor vehicle laws of this state chapter,
   28  unless the context otherwise requires, autonomous technology a
   29  person shall be deemed to be the operator of an autonomous
   30  vehicle operating in autonomous mode when the person causes the
   31  vehicle’s autonomous technology to engage, regardless of whether
   32  a human the person is physically present in the vehicle while
   33  the vehicle is operating in autonomous mode.
   34         (a) A traffic or motor vehicle law of this state does not
   35  prohibit autonomous technology from being deemed the operator of
   36  an autonomous vehicle operating in autonomous mode and does not
   37  require a licensed human operator to operate an autonomous
   38  vehicle when in autonomous mode, except as provided in s.
   39  319.145(1).
   40         (b) The requirements of chapter 322 do not apply if an
   41  autonomous vehicle is operated in autonomous mode without a
   42  human operator physically present in the vehicle.
   43         (c) Sections 316.062, 316.063, and 316.065 do not apply to
   44  an autonomous vehicle operating in autonomous mode in the event
   45  of a crash involving the vehicle if the vehicle owner, or a
   46  person on behalf of the vehicle owner, promptly contacts a law
   47  enforcement agency to report the crash or if the autonomous
   48  vehicle has the capability of alerting a law enforcement agency
   49  to the crash.
   50         (d) Section 316.1975 does not apply to an autonomous
   51  vehicle operating in autonomous mode.
   52         (e) Sections 316.613 and 316.614 apply only to a human
   53  person physically present in a motor vehicle.
   54         Section 2. Subsection (1) of section 319.145, Florida
   55  Statutes, is amended to read:
   56         319.145 Autonomous vehicles.—
   57         (1) An autonomous vehicle registered in this state must
   58  continue to meet applicable federal standards and regulations
   59  for such motor vehicle. Regardless of whether a human operator
   60  is physically present in the vehicle, the vehicle must:
   61         (a) Have a system to safely alert a human the operator
   62  physically present in the vehicle if an autonomous technology
   63  failure is detected while the autonomous technology is engaged.
   64  When an alert is given, the system must:
   65         1. If a human operator is physically present in the
   66  vehicle, require the human operator to take control of the
   67  autonomous vehicle; or
   68         2. If a human the operator does not, or is not able to,
   69  take control of the autonomous vehicle or if a human operator is
   70  not physically present in the vehicle, be capable of bringing
   71  the vehicle to a complete stop.
   72         (b) Have a means, inside the vehicle, to visually indicate
   73  when the vehicle is operating in autonomous mode.
   74         (c) Be capable of being operated in compliance with the
   75  applicable traffic and motor vehicle laws of this state.
   76         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.