HB 1124

Autonomous vehicles; operation; requirements; civil penalties; reports. Prohibits the operation of autonomous vehicles, defined in the bill, in the Commonwealth that do not comply with all applicable federal requirements, standards, and regulations for autonomous vehicles and automated driving systems, defined in the bill. The bill prohibits the use of autonomous vehicles as motor carriers of passengers or property without a human operator who (i) meets any state and federal qualifications for the operation of an autonomous vehicle; (ii) is physically present in such autonomous vehicle; and (iii) has the ability to monitor the performance of such vehicle and intervene in the operation of such vehicle, including operating such vehicle without the use of the automated driving system and stopping and turning off such vehicle if necessary. The bill provides civil penalties for such motor carriers who violate such requirements and provides that the Department of Motor Vehicles may revoke the required license, permit, or certificate of such a motor carrier repeatedly violating such requirements. The bill also requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to annually submit reports on the use of autonomous vehicles as motor carriers of passengers and property to the Chairs of the House and Senate Committees on Transportation no later than November 1.