Massachusetts Senate Bill S2210

Massachusetts 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/16/23
• Refer: 2/16/23
• Refer: 3/7/24

Caption

Relative to increasing operational safety for keyless ignition technology in motor vehicles

Impact

If enacted, S2210 will amend Chapter 90 of the General Laws of Massachusetts, introducing strict standards that manufacturers, dealers, and rental companies must adhere to concerning keyless ignition technologies. This legislative change expects to influence vehicle safety inspections, as the registrar of motor vehicles will be required to implement regulations regarding the inspection of vehicles with such devices to ensure compliance with the new requirements. This can potentially lead to a decrease in incidents of vehicles idling unintentionally, thus promoting public safety.

Summary

Senate Bill S2210, titled 'An Act relative to increasing operational safety for keyless ignition technology in motor vehicles,' aims to enhance safety features concerning keyless ignition systems in vehicles sold or leased in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The bill mandates that all vehicles equipped with keyless ignition devices and internal combustion engines must include technology that automatically shuts off the vehicle after it has idled for a certain period, thus mitigating risks like carbon monoxide poisoning when drivers inadvertently leave the engine running after exiting the vehicle. Furthermore, external warning systems must be put in place to alert operators if they take the key or key code carrying device outside of the vehicle while it is still running.

Contention

The bill's emphasis on operational safety may raise questions among stakeholders regarding the potential costs that producers and dealers might incur to retrofit vehicles or install new technologies. Dealerships are particularly affected since they can no longer sell or lease vehicles that do not meet these new guidelines for keyless ignition systems without first upgrading them. During discussions around the bill, there may also be varying opinions on the balance between operational capacity and safety, especially in light of consumer convenience versus regulatory compliance.