Cops can ticket driverless cars now

The new policy comes amid sweeping new regulations adopted by the DMV, which will also now allow driverless trucks on California roadways.

By Jennifer WadsworthSenior News Editor
Published Apr. 28, 2026•6:16pm

Driverless cars in California are no longer exempt from traffic citations, and the companies that own them now face serious consequences for letting them drive into the scene of an active emergency.

The DMV announced the rules on Tuesday as part of a litany of new autonomous vehicle regulations — some inspired by cases where robotaxis obstructed police and firefighters in San Francisco, and at least one local incident in which a San Bruno cop couldn’t ticket a Waymo for an illegal U-turn.

Under the updated policies, which the DMV called the most comprehensive to date in the U.S., manufacturers can also get permits to deploy heavy-duty driverless vehicles on California roadways.

https://sfstandard.com/2026/04/28/new-driverless-car-rules-california/