California to begin ticketing driverless cars that violate traffic laws
BBC • • nation
Key Points:
- California's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will implement new regulations on autonomous vehicles (AVs) starting July 1, allowing police to issue "notices of AV noncompliance" directly to manufacturers when AVs violate traffic laws.
- The regulations enable law enforcement to cite AV companies for moving violations and require companies to respond to police and emergency officials within 30 seconds, with penalties for vehicles entering active emergency zones.
- These rules are part of a broader 2024 law aimed at increasing oversight of AV technology, reinforcing California's leadership in AV development while prioritizing public safety.
- Major AV operators like Waymo and Tesla, which have permits to test driverless cars in California cities, will be subject to these new enforcement measures.
- Previously, police were unable to ticket driverless cars for traffic violations, as demonstrated by a 2023 incident in San Bruno where officers could not cite a Waymo vehicle after it made an illegal U-turn.
