California Introduces New Law Allowing Police to Ticket Driverless Cars from 1 July

California is set to implement new regulations on autonomous vehicles (AVs) from 1 July, enabling police to issue a “notice of AV noncompliance” directly to the vehicle’s manufacturer. This measure addresses previous difficulties in holding driverless cars accountable for traffic violations.

The new framework, part of a broader 2024 law, will require AV companies to respond to emergency official calls within 30 seconds and will penalise vehicles entering active emergency zones. These rules are being hailed by the California DMV as “the most comprehensive AV regulations in the nation.”

Incidents such as an illegal U-turn by a Waymo AV in San Bruno last September, where police were unable to issue a ticket without a driver, highlighted the regulatory gap. Similarly, a power outage in San Francisco in December saw Waymo vehicles stall in intersections, exacerbating congestion. San Francisco Fire Department officials have also consistently reported robotaxis impeding emergency responses.

Waymo operates extensively in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County, while other companies, including Tesla, also hold permits for AV testing in Californian cities. The move by the DMV signifies an attempt to balance technological advancement with public safety concerns.