California's self-driving vehicle industry has operated for years under a legal framework that, in effect, exempted its products from the rules everyone else must follow. That era has now ended. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has approved a new framework allowing police to fine self-driving vehicles and opening the state's highways to heavy-duty autonomous trucks under strict conditions.

Previously, this was a legal loophole many considered illogical. Traffic tickets were issued to whoever was behind the wheel. When no one was driving, police had no mechanism to enforce traffic rules. Bill 1777, first announced on 27/9/2024, will close this loophole by 1/7.

A Waymo robotaxi in California. Photo: Gizmodo

The most significant change comes from defining how police interact with self-driving vehicles. Under this bill, an officer observing a robotaxi violating traffic law can issue a citation, effectively treating the manufacturer as the driver.

To help authorities track safety trends in real time, the law requires operating companies to report violations within 72 hours. In the event of a collision or a more serious safety incident, this deadline can be shortened to 24 hours.

Serious or repeated violations could lead the DMV to impose specific operational limits, such as restricting the number of vehicles in a company's fleet or suspending its license.

The law also grants emergency responders more control during ongoing emergencies. Following San Francisco standards, self-driving vehicles must be able to obey immediate commands from local authorities. This regulation addresses past incidents where self-driving vehicles obstructed firefighting and rescue operations. Companies must also maintain a dedicated emergency response line answered within 30 seconds.

Local officials now have the authority to issue emergency geofencing directives. If a fire or accident occurs, they can send electronic commands requiring all self-driving vehicles to leave the restricted area within two minutes. Vehicles must also include manual override access and two-way voice communication so emergency personnel can interact with the vehicle on site.

While the ability to issue tickets and interact with robotaxis addresses safety concerns, the most important long-term change in the new regulation is the permission for heavy-duty autonomous trucks to operate on highways.

The California DMV has lifted the ban on vehicles weighing over 4,536 kg, facilitating the entry of autonomous cargo transport into the nation's largest logistics hub. The deployment also includes medium-duty vehicles weighing up to 6,351 kg, intended for public transport and campus shuttles.

However, autonomous trucks still face a much higher threshold than passenger cars. They must complete 804,672 km of testing with a safety driver before transitioning to fully driverless operation. They must also continue to stop at weigh stations and inspection points, just like any human-driven truck.

My Anh (according to Carscoops)