California Cops Can Ticket Driverless Cars from July 1

Autonomous vehicles on California roads face traffic tickets starting July 1. The California DMV announced new regulations this week allowing law enforcement to issue a 'notice of AV noncompliance' to AV manufacturers for violations like running red lights or failing to stop for school buses.

These rules follow years of viral traffic violations and safety investigations involving robotaxis. Tesla's Full Self-Driving system is under investigation for running red lights and driving in the wrong direction.

The regulations also address emergencies. AV companies must respond to first-responder calls within 30 seconds and comply with electronic geofencing directives that block vehicles from active emergency areas. Vehicles already inside must leave, preventing repeats of incidents like Waymos blocking traffic during a San Francisco power outage last year.

Additional provisions permit AV companies to test and deploy heavy-duty autonomous trucks. They include licensing qualifications, permitting, and training requirements for remote drivers and assistants.