California Penalizes Autonomous Vehicle Traffic Violations and Injuries
Autonomous vehicles operating in California committed multiple traffic violations and caused injuries with no enforcement mechanism. California's Department of Motor Vehicles announced rules effective July 1, 2026, allowing police to issue citations directly to manufacturers and requiring them to respond quickly to emergency vehicle requests.
What happened
California announced new rules allowing police to issue notices of non-conformance directly to autonomous vehicle manufacturers for traffic violations, effective July 1, 2026. Previously, autonomous vehicles could not be ticketed because traffic laws required violations to be recorded on a driver's license.
Multiple incidents involving autonomous vehicles prompted the regulatory action. In September 2024, a Waymo vehicle performed an illegal U-turn at a traffic light in San Bruno while police observed; in December, a power outage immobilized several Waymo vehicles at busy intersections in San Bruno; and in April 2026, an autonomous vehicle blocked an ambulance in Austin, Texas.
Reported impact
A Waymo vehicle struck a child in Santa Monica on January 23, 2026. In another incident, a Waymo vehicle failed to stop for a school bus in Atlanta on September 22, 2024, causing injuries to passengers.
Index analysis
The new rules require manufacturers to be reachable by emergency services at all times and respond within 30 seconds. If autonomous vehicles obstruct fire trucks or ambulances, manufacturers must relocate them remotely within two minutes of receiving an official geolocation directive.
Governance controls
The California Department of Motor Vehicles implemented the new enforcement procedure for autonomous vehicles under a broader 2024 law regulating robotaxis. Repeated violations may result in targeted restrictions on vehicle operations.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.