Senate File 2218 - Introduced
SENATE FILE 2218
BY WAHLS
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to conventional human drivers physically
2 present in certain driverless-capable vehicles, and making
3 penalties applicable.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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1 Section 1. Section 321.515, subsection 1, unnumbered
2 paragraph 1, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
3 A driverless-capable vehicle may operate on the public
4 highways of this state without a conventional human driver
5 physically present in the vehicle, unless required under
6 section 321.515A, if the vehicle meets all of the following
7 conditions:
8 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 321.515A Conventional human driver ——
9 when required.
10 A driverless-capable vehicle operating for commercial
11 purposes, and not for personal use, shall not operate on the
12 public highways of this state without a conventional human
13 driver physically present in the vehicle. The conventional
14 human driver must have the ability to monitor the vehicle’s
15 operation and, if necessary, intervene by taking over the
16 operation of the vehicle manually, including but not limited
17 to by stopping and shutting off the vehicle. A conventional
18 human driver required under this section shall hold a driver’s
19 license and any endorsement that would otherwise be required
20 for the operation of the vehicle, and shall comply with all
21 applicable federal and state laws regulating automated and
22 conventional vehicles.
23 EXPLANATION
24 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
25 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
26 Under current law, a driverless-capable vehicle is
27 authorized to operate on the public highways of Iowa without
28 a conventional human driver physically present in the vehicle
29 if the vehicle meets all of the specified system and safety
30 requirements.
31 This bill requires a conventional human driver to be
32 physically present in a driverless-capable vehicle if the
33 vehicle is operating for commercial purposes and not personal
34 use.
35 Under the bill, a conventional human driver physically
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1 present in a vehicle operating in accordance with the bill must
2 have the ability to monitor the driverless-capable vehicle’s
3 operation and, if necessary, intervene by taking over the
4 operation of the vehicle manually, including but not limited to
5 by stopping and shutting off the vehicle.
6 In addition, the bill requires such a conventional human
7 driver to hold a driver’s license and any endorsement that
8 would otherwise be required for the operation of the vehicle,
9 and to comply with all applicable federal and state laws
10 regulating automated and conventional vehicles. Under current
11 law, special driver’s licenses and driver’s license types
12 are required for the operation of different types of motor
13 vehicles, including motorcycles, motorized bicycles, and
14 commercial motor vehicles (CMV). In particular, a person
15 generally must hold a commercial driver’s license (CDL)
16 to operate a CMV. A vehicle is considered a CMV based on
17 the vehicle’s weight, design, and use. While transporting
18 certain passengers or loads, different types of special CDL
19 endorsements are required.
20 By operation of law, a person who operates a motor vehicle
21 that requires a driver’s license commits a simple misdemeanor
22 punishable by a scheduled fine of $260 if the person does not
23 hold a driver’s license valid for the vehicle’s operation (Code
24 section 805.8A(4)).
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 321.515