"kill switch" law implementation timeframe?

[bigjohn]

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (HR 3684) signed into law in 2021...... That mandate requires vehicles to be manufactured so they include a “kill switch” that empowers government to remotely disable the vehicles using surveillance technology. If “impaired” driving is suspected, the auto will shut down.

I wonder what year of manufacture will have this implemented? I just purchased a 2025 Wrangler and wonder if my new Jeep has this technology.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), along with cosponsors Reps. Scott Perry (R-PA) and Chip Roy (R-TX), tried to repeal the bill, but it was voted down, 268 to 164.

From Rep Massie.....
"The car itself will monitor your driving. And, if the car thinks that you’re not doing a good job driving, it will disable itself. So, the car dashboard becomes your judge, your jury, and your executioner."

"Imagine this. We’ve got a snowstorm coming. A mom takes here kids out. They’re going to the grocery store. It’s snowing. They’re trying to get some groceries before the big storm hits. She swerves for a pothole. The neighbor’s pet gets in the way. She swerves for that. A first responder goes by. She pulls over. Her car says, ‘you’ve got one more swerve and then we’re gonna ground you.’ There it is, the next thing she has to avoid — an icy patch in the road. The car has adjudicated her as unsuitable for driving. It disables the vehicle, and there she’s stranded."

 

[zzyzzx]

And what is the vehicle going to do when this system breaks?

 

[FowVay]

At first they came for our manual gearboxes... and I didn't say anything because I didn't drive a manual gearbox equipped vehicle.
Next they came for our gasoline engines... and I didn't say anything because I didn't drive a vehicle with a gasoline engine.
Now they've come for our human operated vehicles and there's no other vehicles left to choose from.

We'll eventually not own vehicles and we'll summons an autonomous vehicle with our phones to arrive at the phones location to take us where we need to go - all under the watchful eye of an ever intrusive government.

Our only options today are to try and vote the elected officials out of office when they deliberately make choices that go against the wishes of their constituency.

 

[cptbarkey]

Well, its been 5 years since then. Thats lots of time for the software to exist, and some person close by to have a laptop zap a few signals to another car.

 

[Kestas]

There would be a lot of automated shutoffs in Michigan springtime with people avoiding potholes.

 

[Pew]

And it's buried in fine print in the infrastructure bill; making the bill sound like a good thing while hiding it's true intent.

 

[dogememe]

This has been a thing for almost two decades now:

 

[rijndael]

It probably doesn't matter if your car currently has it. As long as it can receive OTA updates, it could probably have it with a new update.

 

[fdcg27]

Sounds more like a conjured conspiracy theory concern than it does a real one.

 

[cptbarkey]

Sounds more like a conjured conspiracy theory concern than it does a real one.

Its the law.

 

[bigjohn]

At first they came for our manual gearboxes... and I didn't say anything because I didn't drive a manual gearbox equipped vehicle.
Next they came for our gasoline engines... and I didn't say anything because I didn't drive a vehicle with a gasoline engine.
Now they've come for our human operated vehicles and there's no other vehicles left to choose from.

We'll eventually not own vehicles and we'll summons an autonomous vehicle with our phones to arrive at the phones location to take us where we need to go - all under the watchful eye of an ever intrusive government.

Our only options today are to try and vote the elected officials out of office when they deliberately make choices that go against the wishes of their constituency.

click on that RED 268 to 164 and you can see how everyone voted.

My Representative, Jeff Hurd (R), voted in favor of the "shut off button". He will get a letter from me and I will share this info with everyone I know in the area. He needs a primary challenger in the next election.

But since this isn't a Political Forum.... we need to bend the conversation to information about "the button". If our vehicle has it, can it be disabled? Probably illegal in some states, but so is a DEF delete.

 

[fdcg27]

Its the law.

Well, no, it's more like the far-fetched interpretation of the law by a member of the House.

 

[bigjohn]

Sounds more like a conjured conspiracy theory concern than it does a real one.

I'm 100% certain CNN and Snoopes will call it "misinformation".

 

[fdcg27]

I'm 100% certain CNN and Snoopes will call it "misinformation".

Since both are typically reliable and accurate, you're probably right.

 

[Cujet]

I am an enthusiastic driver, and I know how to properly 'apex' a corner and pass slower moving traffic without risk. My 2024 F150 decides it's had enough of me from time to time and tries to bring the truck to a stop. Flooring it fixes the problem, but as you might imagine, flooring it during technical driving is not always possible.

The truck can easily be disabled with the Ford app on my phone. So Ford, the .gov or some hacker could disable it too.

I must admit, despite the infuriating 'nanny' features, I love this truck. Over 650 miles of range (with 30 miles reserve), 19MPG with spirited driving and a pretty darn good 4x4 system that works worlds better than my previous truck.

 

[crashz]

We've had the "black box" since 2012 in most vehicles. That can't disable the vehicle, but its a legal tattle-tail.

I don't really mind or care, but it would bother me that such a connected car would be an easy target for hackers.

 

[K-Man]

The law required setting a standard by 2024, with the deadline extended up to 3 years to 2027. Nothing yet has been released about the standard or when it would be required on new cars. That's why you haven't heard anything about it since 2021.

A member of Congress introduced a bill in 2025 to repeal this requirement. It was referred to committee in February 2025 and has not seen action since.

 

[cptbarkey]

We've had the "black box" since 2012 in most vehicles. That can't disable the vehicle, but its a legal tattle-tail.

I don't really mind or care, but it would bother me that such a connected car would be an easy target for hackers.

2017 WikiLeaks "Vault 7" documents. A former CIA agent has said it already exists. I believe a targeted EMP could probably also do something more crude, but similar results.

 

[alarmguy]

This thread is false, there is no such thing.
Here’s an explanation. Good old social media, the scary thing …
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/congress-cars-kill-switch-law/

 

[4wd]

This thread is false, there is no such thing.
Here’s an explanation. Good old social media, the scary thing …
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/congress-cars-kill-switch-law/

Thank goodness - my DD is a Wrangler and they don’t know what a straight line is