2005 Legislation Related to Event Data Recorders ("Black Boxes") in Vehicles
As of December 8, 2005
In 2004, California became the first state to enact legislation (Calif. Vehicle Code § 9951) requiring manufacturers to disclose to customers whether event data recorders or "black boxes" are installed in vehicles. Black boxes record data such as the speed of a vehicle, safety belt use, and other vehicle safety information. The law also prohibits download of that data without the owner's permission or a court order. In a related area, California (Calif. Civil Code § 1936) and New York (New York Gen. Bus. Law § 396-z) have passed laws prohibiting rental car companies from using electronic surveillance or global positioning devices to impose fees, charges or penalties relating to the renter's use of the vehicle.
Summary: Legislation introduced in at least 16 states in 2005. Legislation enacted in Arkansas, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, and Texas in 2005. See also 2006 Legislation Related to Event Data Recorders.
ALASKA S.B. 18 Legislature adjourned 05/10/05 Sponsor: Elton Relates to motor vehicles equipped with data recording or transmitting devices.
ARKANSAS S.B. 51 04/01/05, Signed by Governor, Act 1419 Sponsor: Jeffress Prescribes the ownership of information recorded by an event data recorder in motor vehicles and prohibits the use of the data without written permission of the owner of the vehicle; and for other purposes.
CONNECTICUT S.B. 824 05/25/05 Passed Senate Legislature adjourned 06/08/05 Sponsor: Harp Prohibits law enforcement access to recorded information in "black boxes" in motor vehicles.
MASSACHUSETTS H.B. 1973 Sponsor: Travis Relates to motor vehicles equipped with certain recording devices.
H.B. 2092 Sponsor: Torrisi Regulates the use of Recoding Devices in motor Vehicles.
MICHIGAN S.B 902 Sponsor: Stamas Defines event data recorder. Requires the disclosure of the presence of an event data recorder in vehicles.
S.B. 903 Sponsor: Stamas Defines the requirements of an event data recorder by an insurer or the use of event data recorder data to determine insurance premiums to be an unfair and deceptive business practice. This bill requires the passage of S.B. 902.
S.B 904 Sponsor: Kuipers Prevents the use of event data recorder data in criminal trials without a waiver from the operator or a valid search warrant. This bill requires the passage of S.B. 902.
S.B 905 Sponsor: Gilbert Prevents the use of event data recorder data in civil trials without a waiver from the operator. This bill requires the passage of S.B. 902.
MONTANA H.B. 322 Legislature adjourned 04/21/05 Sponsor: R. Koopman. Prohibits the sale or offering for sale of noncommercial motor vehicles that are equipped with event data recorders that are not able to be deactivated; provides that a violation is considered an unfair trade practice and subjects a violator to the unfair trade practice penalties; provides conditions under which information stored on event data recorders may be released or transferred; specifies that unauthorized release or transfer of the information is an invasion of privacy and allowing for collection of damages; defines "Event Data Recorder."
NEVADA A.B. 315 06/13/05, Signed by Governor, Chapter 361 Sponsors: Pierce, Parks An act requiring disclosure of the existence of certain event recording devices in motor vehicles under certain circumstances; restricting the use of information retrieved from an event data recording device under certain circumstances; providing a penalty.
NEW HAMPSHIRE H.B. 599 03/30/05, Passed House Sponsors: Rep. Ferland, Sull 5; Rep. Dickinson, Carr 1; Rep. Phinizy, Sull 5; Rep. Bicknell, Rock , et al. An act requiring disclosure to consumers of the presence of event data recording devices in new motor vehicles.
NEW JERSEY A.B. 2090 / S.B. 2546 Sponsor: Cohen, Buono Requires motor vehicle manufacturers and subscription services to make disclosures about recording devices; regulates release of recording device data.
A.B. 3209 / S.B. 2022 Sponsor: Quigley, Kyrillos Requires ambulances to be equipped with global positioning systems.
A.R. 172 / S.R. 52 02/15/05 Filed with Secretary of State Sponsor: Bodine, Bark Memorializes Rowan University to study feasibility of using black boxes in emergency vehicles.
NEW YORK A.B. 872 / S.B. 850 09/16/05 Signed by Governor, Chapter 648 Sponsor: McEneny, Trunzo Requires the disclosure of the installation of vehicle data recording devices, i.e., event data recorders, by the manufacturer of new vehicles sold or leased in New York state in or along with the owner’s manual.
A.B. 2628 / S.B. 1422 Sponsor: Lafayette, Sabini Provides that motor vehicles manufactured after December 31, 2006 and operated in New York state shall be equipped with an event data recorder.
A.B. 6093 Sponsor: Benjamin Requires use of event data recorders in motor vehicles to reconstruct accident scenes; requires salesperson to inform purchasers orally and in writing that an event data recorder is on board; makes tampering with, disabling, or removal of such device a misdemeanor; provides for the use of such information in actions or proceedings involving motor vehicle accident or crime scenes.
S.B. 3375 Requires any schedule or rating plan for non-commercial private passenger automobile insurance to provide for an actuarially appropriate reduction in premium charges for bodily injury liability, property damage liability, personal injury protection, medical payments, and collision coverage with respect to automobiles equipped with bona fide automotive safety monitoring devices (for parental monitoring of minor drivers).
NORTH DAKOTA S.B. 2200 04/23/05, Signed by Governor, Chapter 440 Sponsors: Holmberg, Trenbeath, Triplett; Representatives DeKrey, Delmore, Kretschmar Relates to recording devices on motor vehicles; and provides for application.
PENNSYLVANIA H.B. 1294 Sponsors: Harhai, Caltagirone, DeWeese, Grucela, Haluska Provides for the sale and removal of motor vehicle event data recorders; imposes penalties; and provides for evidentiary rules.
TENNESSEE H.B. 1303 / S.B. 1850 Legislature adjourned 05/28/05 Sponsor: Coleman / Sponsor: Herron Regulates event data recorders (EDR) and sensing and diagnostic modules (SDM) in motor vehicles and the use and disclosure of any information stored in or generated by such equipment.
H.B. 1304 / S.B. 1806 Legislature adjourned 05/28/05 Sponsor: Coleman / Sponsor: Herron Requires notice of recording devices on motor vehicles be given to motor vehicle owners.
TEXAS H.B. 160 06/18/05 Signed by Governor Sponsor: McCall Relates to motor vehicles equipped with recording devices.
H.B. 195 Legislature adjourned 05/30/05 Sponsor: Guillen Relates to motor vehicles equipped with recording devices.
VIRGINIA H.B. 697 Legislature adjourned 02/27/05 Sponsor: Morgan Requires a manufacturer of a new motor vehicle sold or leased in the Commonwealth that is equipped with one or more recording devices, commonly referred to as "event data recorders” (EDR) or "sensing and diagnostic modules” (SDM), to disclose that fact in the owner's manual for the vehicle. Prohibits specified data that is recorded on a recording device from being downloaded or otherwise retrieved by a person other than the registered owner of the motor vehicle, except under specified circumstances. Requires a subscription service agreement to disclose that specified information may be recorded or transmitted as part of the subscription service. Applies to all motor vehicles manufactured on or after July 1, 2004.
H.B. 2468 Legislature adjourned 02/27/05 Sponsor: May Requires a manufacturer of a new motor vehicle sold or leased in the Commonwealth that is equipped with one or more recording devices, commonly referred to as "event data recorders” (EDR) or "sensing and diagnostic modules” (SDM), to disclose that fact in the owner's manual for the vehicle. Requires a seller or lessor of a new vehicle to conspicuously disclose the fact prior to sale or lease. Applies to all motor vehicles manufactured for model year 2007 and later.
H.B. 2134 Legislature adjourned 02/27/05 Sponsor: Gear, Griffith Deems data that is recorded on a device that records or transmits performance or operation information about the vehicle the personal property of the owner of the motor vehicle and may not be downloaded or otherwise retrieved by a person other than the owner, except (i) with the consent of the owner or (ii) in response to an order of a court of competent jurisdiction.
H.B. 2135 Legislature adjourned 02/27/05 Sponsor: Gear, Black, Griffith Prohibits motor vehicle insurers from including in policies any provision that authorizes the insurer to obtain access to data that is electronically stored in an electronic data recording system in the motor vehicle.
WEST VIRGINIA H.B. 2850 03/24/05, Passed House Legislature adjourned 04/09/05 Sponsors: Delegates Perdue, Barker, Talbott, Amores and Eldridge Relates to regulating the use of automobile event data recorders.
For additional information, contact Pam Greenberg, NCSL Legislative Information Services, 303-364-7700, ext. 1413, pam.greenberg at ncsl.org
Privacy
|