CALIFORNIA – Driverless cars are becoming more common in some California cities, but when autonomous vehicles violate traffic laws, police have often been unable to ticket them—until now.
The state’s California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has announced new regulations on autonomous vehicles (AVs), including a process for police to issue a “notice of AV noncompliance” directly to a vehicle’s manufacturer.
The new rules, which will take effect on 1 July, are part of a broader 2024 law that imposed stricter oversight of the technology. There have been multiple reports of AVs breaking traffic laws, including during a blackout in San Francisco last year. The DMV has described the new rules as “the most comprehensive AV regulations in the nation.”
Under the updated framework, police will be able to cite AV companies when their vehicles commit moving violations. Companies will also be required to respond to calls from police and emergency officials within 30 seconds, and penalties may be issued if their vehicles enter active emergency zones.
“California continues to lead the nation in the development and adoption of AV technology, and these updated regulations further demonstrate the state’s commitment to public safety”, DMV Director Steve Gordon said in a press release.
Waymo is one of the main operators of fully autonomous robotaxis in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County. Several companies, including Tesla, also hold permits to test AVs in California cities. The BBC has contacted Waymo and Tesla for comment.
When these vehicles violate traffic laws, police have sometimes struggled to determine how to hold them accountable. In an incident in September, officers in San Bruno—south of San Francisco—observed a Waymo vehicle making an illegal U-turn directly in front of them, according to the San Bruno Police Department. However, when officers stopped the car, they were unable to issue a ticket because there was no driver present. Instead, they contacted the company regarding the “glitch”.
In December, a major blackout in San Francisco left several Waymo vehicles stalled in the middle of busy intersections, worsening traffic congestion. Officials from the San Francisco Fire Department have also repeatedly raised concerns about robotaxis obstructing emergency response efforts. (BBC)
