Driverless cars approved in Nevada

O, dun-and-rust-colored Nevada, ye land of permissibility and phenomenal real-estate collapse. O land whose capital is named for wayfaring adventurer Kit Carson, whose Las Vegas stands as a shining beacon of unfortunate Americana. And lo, your roads, brim-packed with autonomous vehicles.

OK, so that last one's a slight exaggeration. However, the Silver State has approved the use of driverless cars on the state's highways, byways and city streets. The state's new guidelines, developed with the help of Google, currently mandate a red license plate and a bond of $1 million to $3 million for those wanting to operate the machines on public roads. While Larry Page routinely finds sums 10 times as large while emptying out his pants in the evenings, it's a tall order for someone like you or me.

But fear not! Nevada says that when the vehicles are ready for prime time, schlubs like you, me and Siegfried and Roy will be able to utilize self-driving cars (indicated to other drivers by a green license plate) for our own daily errands. The vehicle's operator need not even be in the vehicle. However, he or she does retain legal responsibility for the machine's doings.

What's more, texting and driving would be legal, obviating the U.S. Department of Transportation's recent recommendation that driver distractions be eliminated.

Unfortunately for the tipplers, drinking and driving will still be verboten. We presume that the state wants to keep the liquor revenue in casino bars and taxi fleets.

By Davey G. Johnson