The bill revises Montana's motor vehicle laws to regulate vehicle platooning and the use of fully autonomous vehicles. It introduces provisions that permit platooning on public highways, contingent upon the Department of Transportation developing rules for this practice, with a deadline for completion set for January 30, 2024. The Department is required to consult with stakeholders, including law enforcement and the trucking industry, before proposing these regulations. The bill also clarifies that DUI laws will apply to platooning and establishes definitions for various levels of automated driving systems, while addressing liability issues for human drivers and manufacturers of vehicles equipped with these systems.

Additionally, the legislation amends existing DUI laws by updating definitions and clarifying legal language, notably replacing "drives" with "conducting" to broaden the scope of DUI offenses. It refines definitions for "passenger area," "under the influence," and "vehicle," and grants municipalities the authority to enact local ordinances based on these provisions. The bill outlines implied consent for blood or breath tests for suspected DUI, detailing administration conditions and consequences for refusal, while ensuring that test results are admissible in court. The effective date for the bill is July 1, 2023, with certain sections set to terminate by June 30, 2027.

Statutes affected:
HB0339_1.pdf: 61-8-1001, 61-8-1002, 61-8-1016, 61-8-1018
HB0339_2.pdf: 61-8-1001, 61-8-1002, 61-8-1016, 61-8-1018
HB0339_3.pdf: 61-8-1001, 61-8-1002, 61-8-1016, 61-8-1018
Amended: 61-8-1001, 61-8-1002, 61-8-1016, 61-8-1018
Introduced: 61-8-1001, 61-8-1002, 61-8-1016, 61-8-1018