California tightens rules on robotaxis after clashes with emergency responders

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1246 into law this week, introducing a new set of requirements for autonomous vehicle operators, including robotaxi companies. The legislation aims to improve safety and response times in situations where self-driving cars break down or get in the way of emergency crews.

The move follows a string of incidents in which robotaxis have blocked traffic, driven into active crime scenes, or interfered with police and firefighters — not only in the San Francisco Bay Area, where dozens of Waymo vehicles operate daily, but in other regions as well. In some cases, emergency crews have had to move the stalled vehicles themselves.

New obligations for operators

Under the law, companies such as Tesla, Waymo, and Zoox must provide local, on-the-ground support whenever their vehicles cause disruptions. Operators can face penalties if a robotaxi blocks police or firefighters for more than 30 minutes.

The law also requires that remote vehicle operators be based in the United States and hold a valid U.S. driver's license. Companies must notify local governments about the location and status of their vehicles during system-wide failures, and must supply local incident technicians who can respond to AV accidents and obstructions.

Several implementation details still need to be worked out by the California Department of Motor Vehicles, the state's primary regulator for autonomous vehicles. The law takes effect in July 2028. It remains to be seen whether other states will adopt similar measures or wait for federal guidance on the issue.