California Approves Rules to Ticket Driverless Cars That Violate Traffic Laws

California regulators have approved new rules allowing police to issue citations to driverless vehicle companies when their autonomous cars break traffic laws. The new regulations, which take effect July 1, are part of a broader 2024 law imposing stricter oversight on autonomous vehicles. Under the rules, police can issue a notice of AV noncompliance directly to the vehicle's manufacturer. Companies will also be required to respond to calls from police and emergency officials within 30 seconds, and penalties will apply if vehicles enter active emergency zones. The California Department of Motor Vehicles described the regulations as the most comprehensive AV regulations in the nation. Waymo is the primary operator of fully self-driving robotaxis in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County, though Tesla and other companies hold permits to test autonomous vehicles in certain California cities. The issue of enforcement has been a growing concern for local officials. In September, San Bruno police stopped a Waymo vehicle after observing it make an illegal U-turn, but officers were unable to issue a ticket because there was no driver to cite. Instead, they contacted the company about the glitch. San Francisco Fire Department officials have also repeatedly raised concerns about robotaxis interfering with emergency responses.