BILL NUMBER: SB 431	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Beall

                        FEBRUARY 25, 2015

   An act to amend Section 21705 of, and to add Article 18
(commencing with Section 28200) to Chapter 5 of Division 12 of, the
Vehicle Code, relating to vehicles, and declaring the urgency
thereof, to take effect immediately.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 431, as introduced, Beall. Vehicles: driver-assistive truck
platooning.
   Existing law requires motor vehicles being driven in a caravan or
motorcade outside of a business or residence district to be operated
so as to allow sufficient space, and in no event less than 100 feet,
between each vehicle or combination of vehicles so as to enable any
other vehicle to overtake or pass.
   This bill would provide that the above provision does not apply to
a vehicle equipped with a driver-assistive truck platooning system,
as defined, that is being driven upon a highway with 2 or more lanes
of traffic in the direction of travel.
   Existing law prohibits the operation of any vehicle or combination
of vehicles that is not equipped as provided. Existing law also
prohibits vehicles from being equipped with certain equipment,
including, among others, jamming devices.
   This bill would authorize the Department of Transportation to
conduct a demonstration project to test the use of driver-assistive
truck platooning systems with 2 vehicles in the platoon. The bill
would require the Department of Transportation, if it authorizes a
demonstration project pursuant to that provision, to coordinate with
the Department of the California Highway Patrol to determine which
types of vehicles and which streets and highways should be included
in the demonstration project, provided that only streets and highways
where driver-assistive truck platooning systems are likely to be
frequently utilized shall be included in the demonstration project.
   This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as
an urgency statute.
   Vote: 2/3. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 21705 of the Vehicle Code is amended to read:
   21705.   (a)    Motor vehicles being driven
outside of a business or residence district in a caravan or
motorcade, whether or not towing other vehicles, shall be  so
 operated  so  as to allow sufficient 
space   space,  and in no event less than 100
 feet   feet,  between each vehicle or
combination of vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to overtake
or pass. 
   (b) (1) This section does not apply to a vehicle equipped with a
driver-assistive truck platooning system that is being driven upon a
highway with two or more lanes for traffic in the direction of
travel.  
   (2) For the purposes of this subdivision, "driver-assistive truck
platooning system" means vehicle automation technology that
integrates sensor array, wireless communications, vehicle controls,
and specialized software to synchronize acceleration and braking
between two vehicles, while leaving each vehicle's steering control
and systems command in the control of its driver. 
  SEC. 2.  Article 18 (commencing with Section 28200) is added to
Chapter 5 of Division 12 of the Vehicle Code, to read:

      Article 18.  Driver-Assistive Truck Platooning


   28200.  (a) The Department of Transportation may conduct a
demonstration project to test the use of driver-assistive truck
platooning systems with two vehicles in the platoon. If the
Department of Transportation authorizes a demonstration project
pursuant to this section, it shall coordinate with the Department of
the California Highway Patrol to determine which types of vehicles
and which streets and highways should be included in the
demonstration project. Only streets and highways where
driver-assistive truck platooning systems are likely to be frequently
utilized shall be included in the demonstration project.
   (b) For the purposes of this article, "driver-assistive truck
platooning systems" has the same meaning as in Section 21705.
  SEC. 3.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect. The facts constituting the necessity are:
   In order to take advantage of federal funds that are currently
available to states for the purpose of testing automated vehicle
technologies on roads and highways, it is necessary that this act
take effect immediately.