Summary — A3036 (SAFER APP): Swift Access For Emergency Response Actions Preservation Program
Status: Introduced Jan 23, 2025; passed Assembly (53–23–2) May 22, 2025; reported out of Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee with amendments (3R), 2nd Reading (June 26, 2025).
Purpose
- Establish the "Swift Access For Emergency Response Actions Preservation Program (SAFER APP)" to enable State action when turn‑by‑turn navigation guidance (e.g., GPS apps) has resulted in or contributed to an ongoing emergency traffic condition that interferes with public safety or emergency response.
Key provisions
- Definitions: The bill defines an "ongoing emergency traffic condition" to capture recurring/excessive vehicular traffic that materially interferes with emergency response operations or endangers public safety.
- Municipal resolutions: A municipal governing body may adopt a resolution (with supporting documentation/analysis) requesting the Attorney General (AG) investigate whether navigation guidance has caused or contributed to an ongoing emergency traffic condition within the municipality.
- AG review / investigation: Upon receipt of a municipal resolution, the AG must consult with the Commissioner of Transportation and local authorities. Under the Senate committee (3R) version, within 90 days the AG must issue written notice to the municipality and Commissioner indicating whether an investigation will be conducted or declining and stating reasons. If the AG determines navigation guidance has resulted in or contributed to an ongoing emergency traffic condition, the AG may order the operator(s) of affected turn‑by‑turn navigation system(s) to detour, reroute, or divert vehicular traffic when providing instructions to drivers, to alleviate or eliminate the condition.
- Enforcement and penalties: Operators that fail to comply with the AG’s order would be subject to daily fines. The Senate committee version sets penalties at not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000 per day until compliance. (Earlier Assembly committee language proposed escalating fines — $1,000/day for first five days, $5,000/day thereafter — and directed fines to affected municipalities.)
- Reporting and rulemaking: The AG, in consultation with the Commissioner, must report to the Governor and Legislature assessing implementation and public‑safety impacts of the rerouting directive within 24 months. Earlier committee language also required adoption of implementing regulations and staged effective dates (regulatory/reporting provisions to take effect immediately; remainder 90 days after enactment).
Who is affected
- Turn‑by‑turn navigation system operators (private companies providing GPS routing apps/services)
- Municipal governments that experience traffic routed by navigation apps
- Motorists and local residents in affected areas (changes to routing)
- State agencies: Attorney General’s Office and Department of Transportation (consultation, reporting)
Procedural/timeline notes
- The bill has been amended multiple times: Assembly committee amendments refined definitions and added Commissioner review in earlier drafts; the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee (3R) removed the Commissioner’s gatekeeping role and clarified AG timelines and penalties.
- Current status (6/26/25): Reported from Senate committee with amendments, awaiting further Senate consideration.
