Maine has not enacted legislation allowing for broad use of autonomous vehicles on public roads, though it has established a regulatory framework authorizing their use in approved pilot programs.
Another 11 states only allowed testing or limited pilot programs, the firm found, while a few others have imposed explicit safety restrictions.
In 2018, then-Gov. Paul LePage signed an executive order to form an advisory committee on “highly automated vehicles.” The Maine Legislature also passed a resolve to allow their testing, demonstration and deployment. The state has since established rules for pilot program evaluation and approval.
In 2019, Maine lawmakers rejected broader legislation that would have established rules for registering autonomous vehicles, licensing operators and assigning liability; the bill died in committee.
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