More than a decade after Nevada became the first state to legalize self-driving cars, the political climate has reversed. With federal safety standards still unwritten and Congress deadlocked on autonomous-vehicle legislation, local lawmakers are stepping in. Municipalities lack authority over vehicle manufacturing but control street operations, so they are using that power to govern robotaxis directly—producing a patchwork of rules that industry leaders had long hoped to avoid.
Examples of local action span the country. Minneapolis is considering a rule that would require human monitors inside AVs, effectively banning driverless operations. San Diego has moved to block Waymo from the airport, and Austin firefighters want dedicated towing protocols and direct operator communication for emergencies because the Tesla Cybercab has no steering wheel or pedals. The trend is not limited to blue cities: Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Iowa are among red states weighing tighter leash on the technology.
In response, AV companies are pursuing two strategies. They are prioritizing states with explicit legislative preemption that stops cities from banning the technology, and they are expanding abroad—Waymo plans to grow in London, Tokyo, and Munich, while Uber is preparing vehicles for Manchester, Madrid, and Dubai. The source notes that the US still offers the industry's best chance at profit, but the growing complexity of local rules is pushing developers to hedge their bets. The article does not provide a count of all local regulations, but it makes clear the trend is broad and still accelerating.