SAN FRANCISCO – The era of “consequence-free” traffic violations for autonomous vehicles is coming to an end. Starting July 1, California law enforcement officers will officially have the authority to issue citations to driverless cars, closing a legal loophole that has long frustrated local officials and safety advocates.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) announced the new regulations this week, implementing a 2024 law designed to expand oversight of the burgeoning autonomous vehicle industry. Under the policy, officers can issue a Notice of Noncompliance directly to manufacturers when a vehicle without a human driver breaks traffic laws.
Until now, police often found their hands tied during encounters with errant robotaxis. A notable incident last year in San Bruno, Calif., saw a Waymo vehicle perform an illegal U-turn directly in front of officers; however, because state law tied citations to a physical driver’s license, no ticket could be issued.
“These updates support the growth of the autonomous vehicle (AV) industry by enhancing public safety and transparency while adding additional accountability for AV manufacturers,” DMV Director Steve Gordon said.
The Notice of Noncompliance triggers a DMV investigation. If a manufacturer fails to remediate the behavior, the department maintains the power to restrict, suspend, or even revoke the company’s operating permit.
The push for stricter regulation follows a string of high-profile incidents involving industry leader Waymo, owned by Alphabet. While the company maintains its Waymo Driver is involved in 92% fewer serious crashes than humans, real-world deployment has been rocky.
In Austin, a robotaxi delayed an ambulance responding to a mass shooting. During a San Francisco power outage, stalled Waymo cars blocked intersections. Investigations found multiple instances of robotaxis failing to stop for school buses in Atlanta and Austin.
Meanwhile, a child was recently struck by a vehicle in Santa Monica, Calif., adding to the nearly 1,000 AV collision reports filed with the DMV since 2014.
Meanwhile, in a private meeting last month, emergency first-responder leaders voiced their growing frustration to federal regulators regarding the impact of AVs on public safety. According to an audio recording obtained by WIRED, officials from fire, police, and EMS departments reported that “frozen” or stalled self-driving cars are frequently obstructing crews during critical missions. One fire official went as far as to label the technology a direct “safety issue” for both emergency personnel and the victims they are trying to reach.
AV regulations extend beyond simple speeding or red-light tickets. Beginning in July, companies must ensure vehicles automatically move out of the way during emergencies; implement geofencing to prevent vehicles from entering hazardous areas such as flooded roads; conduct more rigorous testing and report detailed safety data to the state; and provide enhanced training for remote operators who assist vehicles from afar.
While Waymo says it is currently reviewing the new rules, the state is positioning this framework as the most comprehensive in the nation.
By providing a clear legal structure for everything from fleet sizes to emergency maneuvers, California officials hope to balance the hub of self-driving innovation with the practical necessity of public safety.
