Legislation Bonanza - The Peach State

Georgia, the state where everything is named either Peach or Peachtree, is considering a few bills. (Okay, my knowledge of the state is minimal. I have only been to Savannah and Atlanta. I still have not visited the Coca Cola Museum.)

Senate bill 219

This bill has already been passed by the Georgia House of Representatives. The legislation definitely conceives of and includes provisions for the routine operation of fully autonomous vehicles.  The bill would also regulate "electric assisted bikes" and "electric personal assistive mobility devices," which, if I am reading correctly, are power scooter wheelchairs. 

This bill expressly states that there is no need for any licensed humans to be present in a vehicle. Indeed, the vehicle may be operated while empty. Autonomous vehicles are added to the list of exemptions from the Georgia drivers license requirement.

Senate bill 218

According to SB 218, if a human driver is present in the vehicle, that person is deemed the operator. However, the bill allows for driverless vehicles to be operated without a human on board, in which case the technology is deemed the driver or operator. 

Some kind of black box technology is required to be on each driverless vehicle so that collision details will be recorded.  

The bill specifically states that NHTSA regulations will supersede state laws regarding autonomous vehicles. The legislation authorizes the Georgia Department of Public Safety to carry out the law, if passed, of course.

Senate bill 54  

Peach State political representatives are apparently divided on the driverless issue. This bill requires that there be a human driver in the vehicle - unless it is being driven on a closed course - and that there is a means for said human to easily engage or disengage the autonomous mode. 

So much for a smooth peach puree path to a completely driverless future.

The bill mainly confers on the state department of transportation the responsibility for filling in the details, but this legislation only provides for testing of driverless vehicles on Georgia roads and not for the routine operation or sale of such vehicles.

Since I am blissfully unaware of the details of Georgia politics and its state legislature, I will avoid speculation.