State lawmakers are moving to make life a bit easier the next time you're pulled over and asked for your license, insurance and registration.
No, it won't get you out of getting a ticket. But it may prevent you from having to fish out your wallet or scrounge through the glove box.
Of course, all that assumes that just because you're behind the wheel that you're actually driving the car. Legislators also are weighing whether the state should take the first steps to let "autonomous" driverless vehicles on state roads.
All these ideas are being pushed by state Rep. Jeff Dial, R-Chandler. He said it just makes sense for Arizona to stay one step ahead of the technology.
Consider the driver's license.
"I know whenever I go hiking or I go to the gym, one of the things you've always got to carry with you is that government-issued ID," he said. In fact, Dial said, that's often the only reason he has the wallet with him.
Now it is true that someone behind the wheel of a vehicle should have that wallet. But Dial said that isn't always the case.
"People generally always grab their cell phone," he said. "I don't know that they always grab their wallet."
He envisions a "virtual" driver's license. That "document" would exist on the cell phone, containing exactly the same information as the plastic one.
And the officer wanting the license? Simply hand over the phone.
Dial said it also may be more secure.
He said it's not hard to find places on the Internet that are willing to produce counterfeit Arizona driver licenses, complete with the security features and the hologram, for $400. He said the state could have a verification system where the phone would "ping" the Motor Vehicle Division computer.
Colleagues on the House Transportation Committee appear not quite ready to make that leap. So Dial is recrafting HB 2678 to form a committee to study the issue.
He had better luck, though, with a plan to let motorists provide proof of insurance simply by showing a copy of the certificate on the smart phone.
Under the terms of HB 2677, drivers could simply take a picture of the card with their phone and carry it along. That photo would provide the same legal proof of minimum coverage as the card or actual insurance policy, the only documents now accepted.
And down the road, Dial said insurance companies could simply send an electronic certificate to policyholders, eliminating the need for that paper document in the first place.
That clearly interested Rep. Eric Meyer, D-Paradise Valley.
"I could have used this technology a couple of weeks ago," he said.
"I had my phone and my computer and everything in my car," Meyer explained. But the insurance card in the vehicle had expired and the police officer was unwilling to let him prove on his computer that he actually had coverage.
"And he gave me a ticket," Meyer said in voting in the Transportation Committee this past week to approve the bill.
Dial said he crafted a third measure to create a paperless registration certificate but did not push it this year because of the cost.
"We are kind of in a budget crunch right now," Dial said.
And then there are those driverless cars Dial believes will eventually be on Arizona roads.
His HB 2679 would require the state Department of Transportation to adopt rules authorizing "autonomous" vehicles, operated hands-free by computers using optics, lasers, radar, global positioning systems and something called LIDAR, for light-detecting and ranging, which uses a rotating mirror atop a vehicle to get a three-dimensional image of what is around it.
It would not actually permit ADOT to give the final green light to the driverless cars. What it would allow, though, is testing.
Nevada adopted a similar law last year.
The plan hit a big speed bump this past week when Dial could get only two members of the Transportation Committee to approve. But he's not done yet, vowing to reintroduce the measure later this session.
This time, though, he's hoping to have help. Really big help.
"Google said they would be happy to fly people out here and educate people because they would like to come here and test a vehicle," he said.
The Internet giant did that earlier this month in Florida where a similar proposal faces lawmakers.
Having driverless cars would eliminate one other perennial fight at the Capitol: It would no longer be necessary to keep motorists from texting.
comestherain posted at 5:11 am on Sun, Feb 12, 2012.
Hand over my phone --wth are you smoking sir? Who's your contributors that want to bring in the de facto REAL ID - oh that's right --- ALEC
dockle posted at 10:13 am on Sun, Feb 12, 2012.
how about a bio plug they can shove directly in my body cavities that are constantly checking my dna profile, toxic screen and HIV status to a microchip device that they can dial in on with a laser from outer space or anywhere in the world... then they would not even have to pull me over they could just send in a missile for driving with out insurance!
downtownresident posted at 10:40 am on Sun, Feb 12, 2012.
Of all the ignorant things I've ever heard this could top the list.
Who's paying this "public servant??????" so that they can make some big bucks on the implementation?
Don't try to tell me that this mental midget actually wants to help their constituents, or I'll puke.
If you want to do something to help the public, outlaw license plate covers that hide/obscure plate numbers. That'll actually help someone and not cost the taxpayers any money.
Idiots, they're all money hungry idiots.
pnutman posted at 11:25 am on Sun, Feb 12, 2012.
I don't think I can "Dial UP" on my Rep. He must be having "Nuclear Respritory Visions"....Guess he assumes everyone has a cell. Guess I will hang up the "Dial" tone next election. One would think he would have more important contemporary issues to "Dial UP ON"....LOSER and a disgrace to a Legislature that continues to lose its credibility...Bob Robson, talk to this "out of touch" spaceman.
Masterrogue666 posted at 12:17 pm on Sun, Feb 12, 2012.
I'm not sure I agree with this idea. A car may be able to state whom owns if, but NOT who is DRIVING IT....
DrJCA1 posted at 10:18 pm on Mon, Feb 13, 2012.
Since the elected folks cannot do anything for the good of the people, they always come up with some bizarre scheme to divert our attention from the fact that these pieces of garbage that we elect do absolutely nothing for Americans.
AbleSmith posted at 10:16 pm on Fri, Apr 6, 2012.
I think human may choose a destiny but dont have to perform any mechanical operation of the car as they updates their maps based on sensory input.
Second Hand Cars
rajonmestra posted at 4:16 pm on Tue, Jun 12, 2012.
The law could be against drivers but its for their own sake! Almost 20% of accidents on the road is caused by reckless driving and good thing the state is launching a campaign that would practice discipline and respect. On the other hand, auto makers have been cooperating to this campaign in order for it to succeed. Some of them were actually engaging safety equipments such as GPS and other safety devices. As such, there is no more worry in times of accidents. Aside from that, they are now dealing with replacement stuff that would help driver fix car issues in the shortest period of time. Some of the parts they are dealing with include hood, bumper covers, body parts etc.
mukesh posted at 5:28 am on Wed, Mar 13, 2013.
as google ceo said driverless cars are need of the hour to save of million of life from accidents . do these cars runs on petrol and need lubrication like engine oil
mukesh posted at 3:17 am on Thu, Mar 28, 2013.
I too agree with the comments. The car can show the status of a person..The mats are available in all the brands in the online shopping store..