Police officers in California will soon be able to issue traffic tickets to driverless cars like Waymo robotaxis and require their manufacturers to move them out of the way during emergencies.
The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles adopted the new rules for autonomous vehicles this week, in accordance with a 2024 law that imposed more regulation on the technology.
The rules, which go into effect July 1, are designed to address some of the challenges that have vexed local governments and residents in places where driverless carmakers, like Waymo, have expanded their fleets.
Officials in California and other states have raised concerns about the robotaxis blocking roadways and obstructing emergency response vehicles.
During a power outage last year in San Francisco, for example, Waymo taxis blocked intersections and roadways and caused traffic jams. Last month, officials in Austin, Texas, reported that a Waymo vehicle was blocking an ambulance trying to reach the site of a shooting.
Driverless vehicles have also been a source of confusion for police officers trying to enforce traffic laws. In one instance last year in San Bruno, Calif., a San Francisco suburb, the police pulled over a Waymo vehicle for making an illegal U-turn.
“Since there was no human driver, a ticket couldn’t be issued,” the San Bruno police said in a statement at the time.
Waymo, which is owned by Google’s parent company, Alphabet, has said that its vehicles are designed to follow the laws and move out of the way when they detect sirens. The company has also said that it was committed to improving road safety based on ongoing experiences.
Other states, such as Arizona, have had laws in place allowing the police to issue citations to autonomous vehicles, but the California D.M.V. called its new rules “the most comprehensive” in the nation.
“California continues to lead the nation in the development and adoption of A.V. technology, and these updated regulations further demonstrate the state’s commitment to public safety,” Steve Gordon, the agency’s director, said in a statement. “These updates support the growth of the A.V. industry by enhancing public safety and transparency while adding additional accountability for A.V. manufacturers.”
The new rules establish a process for law enforcement officials to issue citations to manufacturers, such as Waymo, when one of their vehicles violates a traffic law. Beginning on July 1, the police can issue manufacturers a notice of “noncompliance.”
“When a notice is issued, D.M.V. will investigate the matter and determine what remediation, if any, is required,” the agency said in a statement. “If the manufacturer is unable to remediate the issue, the Department may restrict, suspend, or revoke the manufacturer’s operating permit.”
Those restrictions could include limits on fleet sizes, locations, speed and operating conditions based on weather, the department said.
A Waymo spokesman said the company was reviewing the new rules, but declined further comment.
Waymo and other manufacturers are expected to put plans in place for communicating and complying with directives from local emergency officials, including moving their fleets away from designated emergency areas within two minutes of receiving such orders.
The department also issued other regulations for self-driving vehicles. It is requiring manufacturers to conduct more extensive testing of their vehicles in order for them to get permits, adding new training and other requirements for employees who assist in operating the vehicles remotely and mandating the collection and reporting of data on safety-related incidents.
Orlando Mayorquín is a Times reporter covering California. He is based in Los Angeles.
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