In one paragraph
D.C. Law 23-156, the Autonomous Vehicles Testing Program Amendment Act of 2020, amends the Autonomous Vehicle Act of 2012 (D.C. Code 50-2351 et seq.). It defines an autonomous driving system and autonomous vehicle and has the District Department of Transportation run a testing program: no one may test or operate an autonomous vehicle on a District roadway without an AV testing permit. Applicants submit a safety and risk-mitigation assessment, operational design domain and certifications, and must be able to cover a $5 million judgment. Testing entities report crashes and file periodic reports.
Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.
What it means for business
Companies testing autonomous vehicles in DC need a DDOT permit, a safety assessment, $5 million in coverage and regular reporting.
Key provisions
- Defines "autonomous driving system" (hardware and software capable of autonomous operation of a motor vehicle) and "autonomous vehicle"
- A person may not test or operate an autonomous vehicle on a District roadway without an AV testing permit from DDOT
- Permit applications include a safety and risk mitigation assessment, the operational design domain and compliance certifications
- Applicants must be able to respond to a $5 million judgment through insurance, a surety bond or self-insurance
- Testing without an operator aboard requires prior testing with one; test and remote operators must be trained
- Crash and periodic reporting to DDOT, and civil penalties and permit suspension for violations
Latest legislative action
Dec 23, 2020. D.C. Law 23-156 effective Dec. 23, 2020 (Act 23-450)
Topics and industries
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Affected industries
This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error