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Assembly committee advances bill letting AG order navigation apps to reroute during recurring emergency traffic conditions
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Summary
The Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee voted to amend and release A3036, which would let municipalities request Attorney General and DOT review of recurring dangerous traffic caused by navigation apps and authorize reroute orders with fines for noncompliance. Testimony emphasized delayed emergency response and neighborhood safety concerns.
Chairman Clinton Calabrese said the committee amended and released Assembly bill A3036 on Oct. 21, 2024. The bill, called the Swift Access for Emergency Response Actions Preservation Program (Safer App), would let municipalities submit a resolution asking the attorney general and the commissioner of transportation to investigate whether turn‑by‑turn navigation systems are creating recurring emergency traffic conditions, and, if so, authorize orders to reroute traffic away from local streets.
Deputy Chief Kenny Sheridan of the Ridgefield Police Department testified in support, saying navigation apps repeatedly divert I‑95 traffic onto Route 46 and neighboring residential streets, producing congestion, crashes and impediments to first responders. "The sudden influx of traffic on our local roads…has led to an increase in vehicular accidents in our community," Sheridan said, adding that clogged side streets can delay police and emergency medical response.
Senator Gordon Johnson, who staff said originally drafted the measure, told the committee it reflects repeated problems in Fort Lee, Leonia and other boroughs where backups on interstate approaches have sent vehicles through small towns. A municipal resolution would trigger a joint review by the attorney general and DOT; if an emergency traffic condition is found to exist, the attorney general could order a navigation provider to reroute its directions. The committee’s amendments replaced the phrase "emergency condition" with "emergency traffic condition," expanded the definition to include recurring excessive vehicular traffic, allowed periodic review that the condition persists, and made failure to comply subject to fines payable to affected municipalities.
Industry counsel asked the committee to proceed cautiously. A lawyer identifying himself as counsel for Google said he had just received a client memo outlining concerns and promised to distribute it to members. Opponents on the committee raised constitutional and information‑access objections: Assemblyman McGuckin said the bill risks "using government to coerce private companies" and could improperly limit information available to drivers, warning that courts could find problems with the approach.
After discussion, the committee voted to amend and release the bill. Recorded votes in the transcript show multiple affirmative votes and several members expressing either no votes or abstentions during the roll call. The committee message said fines for noncompliance could be up to $5,000 per day and penalties would be paid to affected municipalities.
The bill will next proceed to the Assembly floor for further amendment or a vote. Committee members said they expect additional drafting and discussion as the measure moves forward.
