California to Start Ticketing Driverless Cars for Traffic Violations Under New AV Rules

California to Ticket Driverless Cars for Traffic Violations

California is set to enforce stricter rules on autonomous vehicles, allowing authorities to issue penalties when driverless cars break traffic laws.

Under new regulations announced by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, police will now be able to send a “notice of AV noncompliance” directly to the vehicle’s manufacturer.

New Rules Take Effect July 1

The updated rules will come into force on 1 July as part of a broader 2024 law aimed at regulating autonomous vehicle technology.
Key changes include:

• Police can cite AV companies for moving violations
• Companies must respond to law enforcement within 30 seconds
• Penalties for vehicles entering active emergency zones

The DMV described these measures as the most comprehensive AV regulations in the US.

Why the Change Was Needed

Until now, law enforcement faced a major challenge:
how do you ticket a car with no driver?
In one incident in San Bruno, police stopped a self-driving car operated by Waymo after it made an illegal U-turn. However, officers were unable to issue a ticket and instead had to contact the company.

Rising Concerns Over Safety

Driverless cars have increasingly been involved in problematic situations:

• During a blackout in San Francisco, several AVs stopped in busy intersections, causing traffic chaos
• Emergency services have reported robotaxis blocking response routes
• Multiple cases of traffic rule violations have been documented

These incidents have raised concerns about public safety and accountability.

Major Players Affected

Companies operating or testing AVs in California include:

• Waymo (robotaxi services)
• Tesla (self-driving technology testing)

The new rules will require these companies to take greater responsibility for their vehicles’ behavior on the road.

California Leading the AV Regulation Race

According to DMV Director Steve Gordon, the state continues to lead in both innovation and safety standards.

The move signals a shift toward stricter oversight as autonomous vehicles become more common across cities like:

• Los Angeles
• San Francisco

A New Era of Accountability

With these regulations, California is closing a major gap in traffic enforcement.

Driverless cars may not have drivers—but now, someone will be held accountable when they break the law.