HF3810

Purpose

• Establish rules for using automated driving systems in commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) and create penalties for owners or lessors who allow ADS operations without a human presence. The bill defines key terms and clarifies what counts as the dynamic driving task, aiming to enhance safety by ensuring a real person is involved during ADS operation.

Main Provisions

• Definition of automated driving system (ADS)
  • ADS means hardware and software that can perform all aspects of the dynamic driving task on a part-time or full-time basis.
  • Uses SAE International standard J3016, levels 4 and 5, as revised in April 2021.
• Definition of dynamic driving task (DDT)
  • DDT includes operational aspects (steering, braking, accelerating, monitoring the vehicle and roadway) and tactical aspects (responding to events, changing lanes, turning, using signals).
  • DDT does not include strategic aspects (determining destinations or waypoints).
• Restrictions for CMVs using ADS
  • A person must not use an ADS to perform the DDT in a CMV unless a natural person who is properly licensed to operate the vehicle is physically present in the CMV.
  • The person must be seated in the driver’s seat.
  • The person must monitor the vehicle’s performance while driving on the roadway and intervene if necessary to avoid illegal or unsafe driving.
• Penalties for owners/lessors
  • If a CMV is operated in violation of these rules, the owner or lessor is guilty of a misdemeanor for the first offense.
  • For any subsequent offense by the same owner or lessor (even if on a different CMV), the offense is a gross misdemeanor.
  • The second conviction carries a penalty of $2,000, and the penalty doubles for each subsequent conviction.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Adds explicit requirements that CMVs using ADS must have a physically present, properly licensed human operator seated in the driver’s seat to monitor and intervene as needed.
• Establishes criminal liability for CMV owners/lessors who allow ADS operation without a human present, introducing misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor penalties and escalating monetary penalties after the first conviction.
• Creates and codifies definitions for ADS and DDT and ties them to commercial vehicle operation, using SAE J3016 levels 4 and 5 as the standard.
• Amends Minnesota Statutes sections (notably 169.011 and 169.763) to incorporate these new definitions, restrictions, and penalties.

Practical Effect

• The bill formalizes a safety precaution: human oversight is required when ADS is used in CMVs.
• It places financial and legal accountability on CMV owners/lessors for violations, which could influence how fleets adopt or deploy automated driving technology.

Relevant Terms automated driving system dynamic driving task commercial motor vehicle natural person properly licensed physically present driver’s seat monitors the performance intervenes illegal or unsafe driving misdemeanor gross misdemeanor owner or lessor SAE International J3016 levels 4 and 5 Section 169.011 Section 169.763 Subd.3b Subd.24a