Amended in Senate April 21, 2015

Senate BillNo. 719


Introduced by Senator Hernandez

February 27, 2015


An act to add and repeal Section 14107 of the Government Code, relating to transportation.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 719, as amended, Hernandez. Department of Transportation: motor vehicle technologies testing.

Existing law provides that the Department of Transportation has full possession and control of the state highway system. Existing law requires the department to adopt a balanced, multimodal research and development program, including the research and development of new technologies, and to consult with affected state agencies, including, among others, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, in the performance of those duties.

Existing law establishes rules of the road for the operation of a vehicle on state highways and roads. These rules require motor vehicles being driven outside of a business or residence district in a caravan or motorcade, whether or not towing other vehicles, 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 authorize the department, in coordination with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, to conduct testing of technologies thatbegin delete involve motor vehicles being operatedend deletebegin insert enable drivers to safely operate motor vehiclesend insert with less than 100 feet between each vehicle or combination of vehicles and would exempt motor vehicles participating in this testing from the above-described rule. The bill would require the department to report its findings from the testing to the Legislature on or beforebegin delete Januaryend deletebegin insert Julyend insert 1, 2017, and would repeal these provisions on January 1, 2018.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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SECTION 1.  

Section 14107 is added to the Government Code,
2to read:

3

14107.  

(a) The department, in coordination with the
4Department of the California Highway Patrol, may conduct testing
5of technologies thatbegin delete involve motor vehicles being operatedend deletebegin insert enable
6drivers to safely operate motor vehiclesend insert
with less than 100 feet
7between each vehicle or combination of vehicles.

8(b) Notwithstanding Section 21705 of the Vehicle Code or any
9other provision of law, motor vehicles participating in testing of
10those technologies pursuant to subdivision (a) may be operated
11with less than 100 feet between each vehicle or combination of
12those vehicles.

13(c) The department may only use motor vehicles and streets and
14highways in testing conducted pursuant to subdivision (a) that the
15Department of the California Highway Patrol authorizes for those
16uses.

17(d) The department shall report its findings from the testing
18conducted pursuantbegin insert toend insert subdivision (a) to the Legislature on or
19before July 1, 2017. The report required by this subdivision shall
20be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.

21(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2018,
22and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted statute, that
23is enacted before January 1, 2018 deletes or extends that date.



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