Bill Text: FL S1620 | 2021 | Regular Session | Comm Sub


Bill Title: Autonomous Vehicles

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-04-26 - Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 1289 (Ch. 2021-233) [S1620 Detail]

Download: Florida-2021-S1620-Comm_Sub.html
       Florida Senate - 2021                      CS for CS for SB 1620
       
       
        
       By the Committees on Rules; and Transportation; and Senator
       Brandes
       
       
       
       
       595-04572-21                                          20211620c2
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to autonomous vehicles; amending s.
    3         316.003, F.S.; revising the definition of the term
    4         “autocycle”; defining the term “low-speed autonomous
    5         delivery vehicle”; amending s. 316.2122, F.S.;
    6         authorizing the operation of a low-speed autonomous
    7         delivery vehicle on certain streets and roads;
    8         providing construction; authorizing the operation of a
    9         low-speed autonomous delivery vehicle on streets or
   10         roads with a posted speed limit of up to 45 miles per
   11         hour under specified conditions; providing
   12         requirements for low-speed autonomous delivery
   13         vehicles; amending s. 316.215, F.S.; providing that
   14         certain fully autonomous vehicles are not subject to
   15         certain provisions of law or regulations; amending ss.
   16         316.306 and 655.960, F.S.; conforming cross
   17         references; providing an effective date.
   18          
   19  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   20  
   21         Section 1. Present subsections (38) through (105) of
   22  section 316.003, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
   23  subsections (39) through (106), respectively, a new subsection
   24  (38) is added to that section, and subsection (2) and present
   25  subsection (62) of that section are amended, to read:
   26         316.003 Definitions.—The following words and phrases, when
   27  used in this chapter, shall have the meanings respectively
   28  ascribed to them in this section, except where the context
   29  otherwise requires:
   30         (2) AUTOCYCLE.—A three-wheeled motorcycle that has two
   31  wheels in the front and one wheel in the back; is equipped with
   32  a roll cage or roll hoops, a seat belt for each occupant,
   33  antilock brakes that meet the requirements of Federal Motor
   34  Vehicle Safety Standard No. 122, a steering mechanism wheel, and
   35  seating that does not require the operator to straddle or sit
   36  astride it; and is manufactured in accordance with the
   37  applicable federal motorcycle safety standards in 49 C.F.R. part
   38  571 by a manufacturer registered with the National Highway
   39  Traffic Safety Administration.
   40         (38) LOW-SPEED AUTONOMOUS DELIVERY VEHICLE.—A fully
   41  autonomous vehicle that meets the definition of a low-speed
   42  vehicle in 49 C.F.R. s. 571.3.
   43         (63)(62) PRIVATE ROAD OR DRIVEWAY.—Except as otherwise
   44  provided in paragraph (85)(b) (84)(b), any privately owned way
   45  or place used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having
   46  express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other
   47  persons.
   48         Section 2. Section 316.2122, Florida Statutes, is amended
   49  to read:
   50         316.2122 Operation of a low-speed vehicle, or mini truck,
   51  or low-speed autonomous delivery vehicle on certain roadways.—
   52         (1) The operation of a low-speed vehicle as defined in s.
   53  320.01 or a mini truck as defined in s. 320.01 on any road is
   54  authorized with the following restrictions:
   55         (a)(1) A low-speed vehicle or mini truck may be operated
   56  only on streets where the posted speed limit is 35 miles per
   57  hour or less. This does not prohibit a low-speed vehicle or mini
   58  truck from crossing a road or street at an intersection where
   59  the road or street has a posted speed limit of more than 35
   60  miles per hour.
   61         (b)(2) A low-speed vehicle must be equipped with headlamps,
   62  stop lamps, turn signal lamps, taillamps, reflex reflectors,
   63  parking brakes, rearview mirrors, windshields, seat belts, and
   64  vehicle identification numbers.
   65         (c)(3) A low-speed vehicle or mini truck must be registered
   66  and insured in accordance with s. 320.02 and titled pursuant to
   67  chapter 319.
   68         (d)(4) Any person operating a low-speed vehicle or mini
   69  truck must have in his or her possession a valid driver license.
   70         (2)The operation of a low-speed autonomous delivery
   71  vehicle on any road is authorized with the following
   72  restrictions:
   73         (a)A low-speed autonomous delivery vehicle may operate
   74  only on streets or roads where the posted speed limit is 35
   75  miles per hour or less. This paragraph does not prohibit a low
   76  speed autonomous delivery vehicle from crossing a road or street
   77  at an intersection where the road or street has a posted speed
   78  limit of more than 35 miles per hour.
   79         (b)A low-speed autonomous delivery vehicle may operate on
   80  a street or road with a posted speed limit of more than 35 miles
   81  per hour, but no more than 45 miles per hour, if:
   82         1.The low-speed autonomous delivery vehicle travels no
   83  more than 1 continuous mile on such a street or road, except
   84  that the vehicle may travel in excess of 1 continuous mile if
   85  authorized by the entity with jurisdiction over the street or
   86  road;
   87         2.The low-speed autonomous delivery vehicle operates
   88  exclusively in the right lane, other than for the purpose of
   89  completing a turn; and
   90         3.On a two-lane street or road where overtaking and
   91  passing another vehicle is unsafe because of traffic moving in
   92  the opposite direction or because of other unsafe conditions,
   93  and five or more vehicles are formed in a line behind the
   94  autonomous delivery vehicle, the low-speed autonomous delivery
   95  vehicle exits the roadway wherever a sufficient area for a safe
   96  turn-out exists, to permit the vehicles following to proceed.
   97         (c)A low-speed autonomous delivery vehicle must be
   98  equipped with headlamps, stop lamps, turn signal lamps,
   99  taillamps, reflex reflectors, and vehicle identification
  100  numbers.
  101         (d) Federal regulations adopted by the National Highway
  102  Traffic Safety Administration shall supersede this subsection
  103  when found to be in conflict with this subsection.
  104         (e) A low-speed autonomous delivery vehicle must be covered
  105  by a policy of automobile insurance which provides the coverage
  106  required by s. 627.749(2)(a)1., 2., and 3. The coverage
  107  requirements of this paragraph may be satisfied by automobile
  108  insurance maintained by the owner of a low-speed autonomous
  109  delivery vehicle, the owner of the teleoperation system, the
  110  remote human operator, or a combination thereof.
  111         (3)(5) A county or municipality may prohibit the operation
  112  of low-speed vehicles or mini trucks on any road under its
  113  jurisdiction if the governing body of the county or municipality
  114  determines that such prohibition is necessary in the interest of
  115  safety.
  116         (4)(6) The Department of Transportation may prohibit the
  117  operation of low-speed vehicles or mini trucks on any road under
  118  its jurisdiction if it determines that such prohibition is
  119  necessary in the interest of safety.
  120         Section 3. Present subsection (6) of section 316.215,
  121  Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (7), a new
  122  subsection (6) is added to that section, and present subsection
  123  (6) is republished, to read:
  124         316.215 Scope and effect of regulations.—
  125         (6)The provisions of any motor vehicle equipment laws or
  126  regulations of this state which relate to or support motor
  127  vehicle operation by a human driver but are not relevant for an
  128  automated driving system shall not apply to fully autonomous
  129  vehicles that are designed to be operated exclusively by the
  130  automated driving system for all trips.
  131         (7)(6) A violation of this section is a noncriminal traffic
  132  infraction, punishable as a nonmoving violation as provided in
  133  chapter 318.
  134         Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
  135  316.306, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  136         316.306 School and work zones; prohibition on the use of a
  137  wireless communications device in a handheld manner.—
  138         (3)(a)1. A person may not operate a motor vehicle while
  139  using a wireless communications device in a handheld manner in a
  140  designated school crossing, school zone, or work zone area as
  141  defined in s. 316.003(106) s. 316.003(105). This subparagraph
  142  shall only be applicable to work zone areas if construction
  143  personnel are present or are operating equipment on the road or
  144  immediately adjacent to the work zone area. For the purposes of
  145  this paragraph, a motor vehicle that is stationary is not being
  146  operated and is not subject to the prohibition in this
  147  paragraph.
  148         2.a. During the period from October 1, 2019, through
  149  December 31, 2019, a law enforcement officer may stop motor
  150  vehicles to issue verbal or written warnings to persons who are
  151  in violation of subparagraph 1. for the purposes of informing
  152  and educating such persons of this section. This sub
  153  subparagraph shall stand repealed on October 1, 2020.
  154         b. Effective January 1, 2020, a law enforcement officer may
  155  stop motor vehicles and issue citations to persons who are
  156  driving while using a wireless communications device in a
  157  handheld manner in violation of subparagraph 1.
  158         Section 5. Subsection (1) of section 655.960, Florida
  159  Statutes, is amended to read:
  160         655.960 Definitions; ss. 655.960-655.965.—As used in this
  161  section and ss. 655.961-655.965, unless the context otherwise
  162  requires:
  163         (1) “Access area” means any paved walkway or sidewalk which
  164  is within 50 feet of any automated teller machine. The term does
  165  not include any street or highway open to the use of the public,
  166  as defined in s. 316.003(85)(a) or (b) s. 316.003(84)(a) or (b),
  167  including any adjacent sidewalk, as defined in s. 316.003.
  168         Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.

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