Full Breakdown
California Gives Police Authority to Ticket Driverless Cars
5/2/2026, 9:39:50 AM
New Enforcement Rules Effective July 1, 2026
On April 29, 2026 the California DMV adopted rules that, July 1, 2026, let police issue a “notice of noncompliance” to autonomous-vehicle manufacturers for moving violations and require removal of driverless cars from emergency zones.
Legislative Background
Assembly Bill 1777, passed in 2024, mandated the DMV to close a loophole that limited traffic citations to human drivers, leaving fully driverless vehicles exempt from moving-violation tickets.
How Notices Work
When an officer observes a violation, the manufacturer must report it to DMV within 72 hours (24 hours for collisions). Repeated noncompliance can trigger limits, suspensions or permit revocation, and companies must answer emergency calls within 30 seconds.
Incidents That Prompted Change
Waymo taxis blocked intersections during a December 2025 San Francisco power outage, made an illegal U-turn in September 2025 in San Bruno, and impeded an Austin ambulance in 2025.
Data and Fleet Size
Waymo runs roughly 1,000 robotaxis in the Bay Area and 100 in Los Angeles; its fleet received hundreds of parking citations in San Francisco, totaling over $65,000 in 2024 fines. Tesla aims to produce hundreds of Cybercabs weekly and add robotaxi service in seven new cities in 2026.
Official Statements
DMV Director Steve Gordon said the rules “demonstrate the state’s commitment to safety.” DMV spokesperson Jonathan Groveman called the notice system a “mechanism” for assigning violations to manufacturers. Waymo’s Julia Ilina said its system “is designed to respect the rules of the road.”
Criticism and Opposition
Teamsters Union warned that limiting officers to notices rather than fines “takes California backwards.” State Sen. Dave Cortese argued that without a human driver “the nearest human” must be accountable, and safety expert Phil Koopman noted modest fines may not deter large firms.
Conflicting Reports and Gaps
Sources differ on whether the rule was adopted on April 29 or “this week” in late April, and on whether the enforcement tool is called a “ticket” or a “notice of noncompliance.” No data on issued notices is yet public.
Verbatim Quotes
- “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,” — Steve Gordon, DMV Director
- “The reality is that even a several-hundred-dollar ticket fine doesn't mean much to a big company,” — Phil Koopman, Carnegie Mellon University
- “I think it's a great standard that's set in place,” — Sgt. Scott Smith, San Bruno Police Department
- “That's going to force them to do it better, because this is the only way they can force a company to do better,” — Ahmed Banafa, San Jose State University
What’s Next
The rules create a pathway for testing autonomous trucks over 10,000 lb, with Aurora seeking permits. The DMV will monitor compliance and may issue further restrictions as robotaxi fleets expand.
