While fully driverless cars still sound futuristic to many — particularly Europeans — they have already become part of everyday urban life in parts of California.
Among the most prominent robotaxi operators in California is Waymo, which runs fully autonomous ride services in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles County.
For instance, in San Francisco, residents regularly encounter autonomous taxis operating without anyone actually behind the wheel.
These vehicles can be hailed through an app much like an ordinary rideshare service and are now circulating in large enough numbers that they routinely interact with pedestrians, cyclists, emergency vehicles, and public transport. This means that California has become a real-world testing ground for self-driving technology due to its concentration of major tech companies (which have recently invested heavily in artificial intelligence and mobility startups) as well as a relatively permissive regulatory environment.
As a result, situations that might still seem experimental or rare in most European cities, such as police stopping an empty car or robotaxis causing traffic disruptions, are becoming increasingly normal there.
Until recently, however, law enforcement had no clear way to penalize them when they broke traffic rules. That is about to change.
California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has introduced a new set of regulations for autonomous vehicles (AVs), including a mechanism that allows police to issue a formal “notice of AV noncompliance” directly to the manufacturer operating the vehicle.
The measures are tied to a broader 2024 law aimed at tightening oversight of self-driving technology, and they will take effect on 1 July.
The move follows a series of incidents involving AVs violating traffic laws or disrupting public safety. During a major power outage in San Francisco last year, for example, several driverless cars reportedly became stranded in busy intersections, worsening congestion.
According to the California DMV, the framework represents “the most comprehensive AV regulations in the nation.”
Under the updated rules, companies operating autonomous vehicles can now be cited for moving violations committed by their cars. Manufacturers will also be required to answer calls from police or emergency personnel within 30 seconds. Additional penalties may apply if AVs enter active emergency scenes.
“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 statement.
Tesla and several other firms also hold permits to test AV technology in parts of the state.
Police have long struggled with the question of accountability when no human driver is present. In one incident last September, officers in San Bruno observed a Waymo vehicle making an illegal U-turn directly in front of them at a traffic light. After pulling the car over, they discovered there was no driver to cite, forcing them instead to contact the company about what authorities described as a technical “glitch.”
Officials from the San Francisco Fire Department have repeatedly complained that robotaxis can obstruct emergency operations and slow response times.
