California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 1246, a law aimed at reducing disruptions caused by autonomous vehicles. The measure responds to repeated incidents in which robotaxis impeded traffic, drove into crime scenes, or interfered with first responders. Under the new rules, AV companies such as Tesla, Waymo, and Zoox must provide local, on-the-ground support when their vehicles cause problems, and they can face penalties if a robotaxi blocks police or firefighters for more than 30 minutes.
The law also restricts remote driving: AV developers may employ only remote drivers based in the United States who hold a U.S. driver's license. Companies must notify local jurisdictions about vehicle locations and status during system-wide failures, and they must supply "local incident technicians" to assist with accidents and obstructions. The California DMV, the state's main AV regulator, will handle remaining implementation details.
The law takes effect in July 2028, and TechCrunch notes it likely will not fully keep robotaxis out of the way of emergency responders. The hope, the report says, is that it reduces chaos and raises accountability when incidents do occur. Whether other states follow California's lead or wait for federal action remains an open question.