California Will Start Ticketing Driverless Cars

Starting this summer, California cops will finally have somewhere to send a ticket if a driverless car runs a red light, the BBC reports. New DMV rules taking effect July 1 let officers issue a "notice of AV noncompliance" straight to the autonomous vehicle's manufacturer should the car break any traffic laws. The regulations—described by the DMV as the "most comprehensive" in the country—also require AV companies to answer calls from police or emergency officials within 30 seconds and set penalties if their vehicles roll into active emergency scenes.

The changes follow a string of incidents, including Waymo robotaxis blocking San Francisco intersections during a December blackout and a San Bruno officer unable to ticket a Waymo after watching it make an illegal U-turn. In Atlanta, a Waymo failed to stop for a school bus, KTLA reports. Waymo and Tesla are among the companies testing or operating AVs in the state. DMV Director Steve Gordon said the updated rules show California is trying to balance adoption of the technology with public safety. However, the Mercury News reports there are no fines or "points" taken off licenses if driverless cars are cited, and critics say that the new rules for ticketing don't go far enough. The DMV, though, may decide to "restrict, suspend, or revoke" a car maker's operating permit once the noncompliance notice is investigated.