I saw an article today by Reuters News service about a bill being drafted by a House committee to allow automakers to produce up to 100,000 self-driving cars. The bill would limit the ability of states to regulate the self-driving cars and set up limited review by Federal authorities. Supposedly the bill was being pushed by automakers including Tesla. Nominally, it sounds as if the bill would be helpful to the early deployment of self-driving automobile technology and avoid overlapping and conflicting safety regimes. (But it would turn out to work is beyond my guess now.)
But the story included this little gem as well: "Auto dealers want the final bill to clarify that the measure would not preempt state dealer franchise laws that generally bar automakers from selling vehicles directly to consumers."
I love that word "clarify," when in fact the Federal Trade Commission has already said that such state laws are anti-consumer and anti-competitive,
(I am sorry I cannot provide a link to the actual story because I read it inside my Fidelity account's login page.)
But the story included this little gem as well: "Auto dealers want the final bill to clarify that the measure would not preempt state dealer franchise laws that generally bar automakers from selling vehicles directly to consumers."
I love that word "clarify," when in fact the Federal Trade Commission has already said that such state laws are anti-consumer and anti-competitive,
(I am sorry I cannot provide a link to the actual story because I read it inside my Fidelity account's login page.)