California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill 1246, introducing new regulations for autonomous vehicle operators. The law mandates that companies must ensure local personnel are available to assist emergency responders if an autonomous taxi malfunctions or obstructs official operations.
Under the new legislation, operators face potential fines if their vehicles block police or firefighters for more than 30 minutes. Furthermore, developers are now required to employ remote operators who are based in the United States and hold valid American driver licenses to manage vehicle interventions.
In the event of a total system failure, companies must report the vehicle's location and status to local authorities. The law also requires firms to maintain technical staff on-site to handle accidents or traffic disruptions. These measures follow multiple incidents involving Waymo vehicles in California.
Waymo currently operates approximately 4,000 autonomous vehicles across the United States, with about 1,200 of those deployed in the San Francisco Bay Area. The California Department of Motor Vehicles will develop specific implementation rules, including mandatory response timeframes.
The new regulatory framework is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2028. These requirements were prompted by previous instances where autonomous taxis interfered with emergency services, leading to calls from state and federal lawmakers for stricter oversight of the industry.
