John James co-sponsors legislation to kill the vehicle 'kill switch' mandate

WASHINGTON - Congressman John James on Monday co-sponsored legislation to repeal the Biden-era vehicle "kill switch" mandate set to take effect next year.

The mandate, which was tucked in a provision of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by then-President Joe Biden, directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require all new passenger vehicles to come equipped with driver surveillance technology capable of shutting off the vehicle if the system deems that someone is not fit to drive due to impairment or other reasons.

James called the mandate Orwellian and intrusive.

"I do not support the vehicle kill switch mandate and I never will," said James, R-Shelby Township. "Letting A.I. decide whether someone can drive their own vehicle is a dystopian nightmare. There are better, more reliable ways to keep the roads safe that don't involve constantly monitoring millions of innocent people. The potential for abuse is too high. So are the chances that the system could make a mistake, leaving someone stranded in an emergency."

James co-sponsored H.R. 1137, which is also known as the "No Kill Switches in Cars Act." The bill is currently in the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce, on which James serves.

To date, James is the only lawmaker serving on the subcommittee of jurisdiction who has signed onto the legislation as a co-sponsor; he is also the first in the Michigan congressional delegation to co-sponsor the anti-kill switch bill.

James previously successfully spearheaded legislation to repeal Biden EV mandates, which President Trump signed into law.

"I don't hate EVs; I hate Biden-era EV mandates that increase cost and take away consumer choice. That's why I worked with President Trump to repeal them," James said. "I've always been a proponent of choice; if advanced safety features are available, then Americans should have the right to choose to use that safety feature. But under no circumstances should the government ever mandate anything that will result in the blanket surveillance of lawful citizens."

James represents Michigan's 10^th congressional district, which includes portions of Oakland and Macomb counties.

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