1. (a) “Autonomous technology data recorder” is a mechanism, in addition to, and separate from, any other mechanism required by law, installed in an autonomous vehicle to record technical information about the status and operation of the vehicle's autonomous technology sensors for 30 seconds prior to a collision.
2. (b) “Deployment” means the operation of an autonomous vehicle on public roads outside of a testing program authorized by the department pursuant to Article 3.7 of this Chapter.
3. (c) “Deployment Permit” means a Permit to Deploy Autonomous Vehicles on Public Streets, form OL 321A (Rev. 12/2024), which is hereby incorporated by reference that is issued by the department to a manufacturer.
4. (d) “Deployment Permit Application” means an Application for a Permit to Deploy Autonomous Vehicles on Public Streets, form OL 321 (Rev. 2/2025), which is hereby incorporated by reference, that is submitted by the manufacturer and must be approved by the department in order to issue a Deployment Permit. The content of the form may be submitted electronically to the department via the department's web page or portal.
5. (e) “Deployment Permit Operational Parameters Amendment Application” form OL 321 (Rev. 2/2025), which is hereby incorporated by reference, means a Deployment Permit Application submitted by a manufacturer that possesses a valid Deployment Permit at the time the application is submitted to make changes listed in section 228.12(b). The content of the form may be submitted electronically to the department via the department's web page or portal.
6. (f) “Fallback-ready user” means the natural person physically located in the driver's seat of a vehicle, who is able to operate the vehicle and is receptive to a request to intervene, and receptive to evident dynamic driving task performance-relevant system failures in the vehicle notifying the natural person to perform the dynamic driving task fallback when necessary.
7. (g) “Original Deployment Permit Application” means an Application for a Permit to Deploy Autonomous Vehicles on Public Streets, form OL 321 (Rev. 2/2025), which is hereby incorporated by reference, that is submitted by a manufacturer that does not possess a valid Deployment Permit at the time of application and must be approved by the department in order to issue a Deployment Permit. The content of the form may be submitted electronically to the department via the department's web page or portal.
8. (h) The definitions specified in Section 227.02 of Article 3.7 shall also apply to this article.

As used in this article the following definitions apply:

Note: Authority cited: Sections 1651 and 38750, Vehicle Code. Reference: Section 38750, Vehicle Code.

History

1. New section filed 2-26-2018; operative 4-1-2018 (Register 2018, No. 9).

2. Amendment of subsection (c) filed 12-16-2019; operative 12-16-2019 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2019, No. 51).

3. Change without regulatory effect amending subsection (b) filed 4-5-2022 pursuant to section 100, title 1, California Code of Regulations (Register 2022, No. 14).

4. Amendment filed 4-28-2026; operative 4-28-2026 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2026, No. 18).