D.C. Act 25-420. Autonomous Vehicle Testing Permit Requirement Emergency Amendment Act of 2024.
AN ACT
To amend, on an emergency basis, the Autonomous Vehicle Act of 2012 to prohibit driverless testing of autonomous vehicles ("AV") on District roadways without an AV testing permit, and to require any person or entity testing AVs with a test operator before an AV testing permit becomes available to provide notice to the District Department of Transportation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Autonomous Vehicle Testing Permit Requirement Emergency Amendment Act of 2024".
Sec. 2. The Autonomous Vehicle Act of 2012, effective April 23, 2013 (D.C. Law 19-278; D.C. Official Code § 50-2351 et seq.), is amended as follows:
(a) Section 3a(d) (D.C. Official Code § 50-2352.01(d)) is amended to read as follows:
"(d) A person or entity shall not test or operate an autonomous vehicle on a District roadway without an AV testing permit, unless the Department has not yet made an AV testing permit application available and:
"(1) There is a test operator physically present in the vehicle who is performing the dynamic driving task or is prepared to take over the dynamic driving task from the autonomous driving system;
"(2) The person or entity is in compliance with other local and federal laws and regulations; and
"(3) The person or entity provides the Department with electronic notification at least 10 business days prior to commencing testing or operating in the District, including the following information with respect to operations in the District, the:
"(A) Number of autonomous vehicles;
"(B) Model, make, and type of autonomous vehicles;
"(C) Operator training and license information;
"(D) Geographic testing or operation locations; and
"(E) Time period of testing or operation.".
(b) Section 3e (D.C. Official Code § 50-2352.05) is repealed.
(c) Section 3f(a)(1) (D.C. Official Code § 50-2352.06(a)(1)) is amended by striking the phrase "An AV testing entity" and inserting the phrase "A person or entity" in its place.
Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.
The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Chief Financial Officer as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).
Sec. 4. Effective date.
This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section 412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; D.C. Official Code § 1-204.12(a)).
