MINUTES OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION Sixty-eighth Session January 26, 1995 The Senate Committee on Transportation was called to order by Chairman William R. O'Donnell, at 1:35 p.m., on Thursday, January 26, 1995, in Room 226 of the Legislative Building, Carson City, Nevada. Exhibit A is the Agenda. Exhibit B is the Attendance Roster. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: Senator William R. O'Donnell, Chairman Senator Maurice Washington, Vice Chairman Senator Lawrence E. Jacobsen Senator Jon C. Porter Senator Joseph M. Neal, Jr. Senator Raymond C. Shaffer Senator O. C. Lee GUEST LEGISLATORS PRESENT: Senator Kathy Augustine, Clark District 7 STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Don O. Williams, Chief Principal Research Analyst Diane Rea, Committee Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: Frank Barker, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (METRO) Judy Jacoboni, Chapter President, Mothers Against Drunk Driving Robert Barengo, Electronic Industries Association Senator Augustine explained to the committee her briefing (Exhibit C) explaining that it repeals the Automobile Television-Type Receiving Equipment Prohibition Act. These are new wireless systems that transmit the data to improve drivers safety and provide information to travelers, road managers and commercial fleet operations. Nevada is only one of nine states (Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming) that prohibit automobiles from having these television-type receiving equipment. She stated the equipment will allow access to traffic conditions and directions to specific locations. Senator Augustine stated the money being spent for research is coming from Federal funding. The State of Nevada has received funding to study the feasibility of a traveler information system for Clark County. She continued, these are monitors that are about 7 inches. These devices will not tell the driver where the Highway Patrol is located. Senator Neal stated that this is a part of the Etak corporation. He asked what the disadvantages of the system would be. Senator Augustine replied that Robert Barengo, Electronic Industries Association, could help answer that question. Mr. Barengo stated that Motorola was a different company than Sony. They had recently demonstrated this to President Clinton. It is the global positioning satellite that is picked up in the vehicle which tells a person where he is. A person uses the video multiple layer screens to get to where he is aiming to go to. People can change the screen to show them more objects as they are driving down the street. It does not direct the car where to go, it shows people on the screen where they want to go. Oldsmobile is going to be offering these as an option in their cars for about $2,000. Senator O'Donnell stated that there are emergency vehicles that will be able to get this information. The information comes from eight different satellites. There will be a ground station located in the city which will put a person approximately 3 meters of anywhere in the world. They will locate accidents and bottlenecks so that people can avoid those areas. The problem seen is that they will take the drivers eyes off the road. Safe travel is paramount, but the easability in travel is also paramount. Senator Augustine corrected herself by stating that five of the previously mentioned states have changed their laws. We are only one of four states now, Nevada, Texas, Utah and Wyoming. Wyoming has a bill to allow this system to be installed before their committees now. Senator O'Donnell asked if there had been any reported accidents created by the use of this monitor. Senator Augustine stated that Internodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) Federal funding has put $8.5 million into the city of Las Vegas to study this travel information system. She felt that they have investigated the use of this device. Senator Neal asked if this had been approved by the national transportation department. Senator Augustine replied that is where ISTEA had originated. Rockwell, Sony and Motorola are the three companies that provided information for her brief. Mr. Barengo stated that a car has to have the electronics portion and then has have to have the mapping portion installed. He did not know whether in Nevada each of the cities had been mapped. Senator Neal asked why a change in this is needed. Mr. Barengo stated that the law prohibits any television type of monitor in a car. That would include the small 5 inch monitor. SENATE BILL (S.B.)109: Authorizes use of television-type receiving equipment for navigation of motor vehicle, (BDR 43-1036) (Exhibit D). Section 1 of S.B. 109 states "A person shall not drive any motor vehicle equipped with television-type receiving equipment so located that the viewer or screen is visible from the driver's seat." Section 2 would modify section 1 so that the general public could use it for navigation. Senator Neal stated that when this was put into law it was referring to the television set. It did not refer to something that would aid a person in travel. Senator Augustine stated that is why section 1, item 1 remains unchanged. Section 1 item 2 just refers to the navigation devises. Senator Jacobsen asked how this would be enforced? How does law enforcement detect one of these units is in the vehicle? Senator Augustine replied that if they are registered in another state where they are already legal, there is no need to regulate. Senator Lee stated that he wondered if Metro was comfortable with this bill with reference to the dispatching equipment that is in Metro cars. Senator O'Donnell replied that line 6 refers to the "law enforcement purposes." Frank Barker, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, stated that his interest today was simply in monitoring the bill. They are excluded from the provisions of the bill and they want to make sure that the exclusion is not tampered with. They use similar monitors in almost all the vehicles in the Clark County/Las Vegas area. They are a very effective tool ... used primarily as a dispatch tool as opposed to audio transmission. They do not have the map, but the City of Las Vegas is working on that now. Senator O'Donnell closed the hearing on S.B. 109. Senator O'Donnell stated that Judy Jacoboni had a request. Judy Jacoboni, Chapter President, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Lyon County Chapter stated: Thank you very much for inviting me to speak today. I did not come prepared to talk, but I did bring some information with me in case there are any questions. I do have a request for the committee. About a year ago I spoke with Bill Petrak who was a candidate for Assembly. He put in a bill draft request (BDR) for a bill which would lower the blood alcohol concentration in Nevada from .10 to .08. The BDR is still hanging. Mr. Petrak did not get reelected and I am coming before the committee to respectfully ask that this committee ask that this bill be drafted. Senator O'Donnell stated that if the committee wanted to make a motion to draft the bill that he would take the motion. SENATOR WASHINGTON MADE MOTION TO HAVE THE .08 BILL DRAFTED. MOTION DIED FOR LACK OF A SECOND. * * * * * Senator Jacobsen requested that Senate Bill 118 be postponed until after the Las Vegas break. He announced that Colonel Corbin, Chief, Nevada Highway Patrol, has invited the committee to tour the new station in Reno. Senator O'Donnell said if there was no further business he would adjourn the meeting at 2:05 p.m. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED: Diane C. Rea, Committee Secretary APPROVED BY: Senator William R. O'Donnell, Chairman DATE: Senate Committee on Transportation January 26, 1995 Page