California Police Can Start Ticketing Driverless Cars
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- California's Department of Motor Vehicles has adopted new rules allowing police officers to issue traffic tickets to driverless cars and require manufacturers to move them during emergencies, effective July 1.
- The regulations stem from a 2024 law aimed at increasing oversight of autonomous vehicles as their fleets expand in California and other states.
- These rules address issues such as robotaxis blocking roadways and emergency vehicles, which have caused traffic disruptions, including incidents during a San Francisco power outage and an ambulance blockage in Austin, Texas.
- The presence of driverless cars has also complicated traffic law enforcement, exemplified by a case where police pulled over a Waymo vehicle for an illegal U-turn in San Bruno, California.
