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Committee advances bill letting AG request reroutes from navigation apps; Google warns of enforcement limits
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Summary
S756, which would allow the attorney general to order temporary rerouting by navigation apps during defined emergency-traffic conditions, was released as amended. Google and trucking representatives warned of practical limits and potential liability concerns.
A Senate committee voted to release S756 as amended after testimony from industry and municipal representatives about the feasibility of ordering navigation apps to reroute traffic.
Dale Florio of Princeton Public Affairs Group, appearing on behalf of Google, told the committee he had just received the company's written comments and cautioned that algorithmic apps respond to real-time conditions and are only one factor in routing. "Absent a specific change in the law, any algorithmic designed app is gonna just respond to current conditions," Florio said, noting manufacturers' in-dash navigation systems and driver preferences may limit the bill's effect.
Eric DeJesro, representing trucking clients, asked sponsors to clarify liability so motor carriers are not penalized when apps do not implement requested changes; sponsors indicated they had added clarifying language in section 4.
Municipal representatives cited chronic short-cutting through local streets during peak hours. Several senators said they would move the bill out of committee to allow floor consideration while reserving judgment on final changes.
The committee released S756 as amended to the full Senate.
