In San Francisco, self-driving cars without occupants are exempt from receiving traffic tickets, as clarified by the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD). This highlights ongoing legal and safety concerns surrounding autonomous vehicle technology, with California laws yet to catch up to the advancements despite the widespread presence of these vehicles on the road.
The SFPD's policy allows officers to conduct traffic stops on autonomous vehicles for violations but limits the issuance of citations to cases where a safety driver is present. Since June 2022, autonomous vehicles have been permitted to operate without safety drivers within city limits.
However, officers can only issue citations to the registered owner of an unoccupied vehicle for non-moving violations such as parking or registration offenses, excluding violations like speeding or running a red light.
The SFPD clarified that, currently, no citation for a moving violation can be issued if the autonomous vehicle is being operated in a driverless mode. The reason behind this exemption was not explicitly provided in the statement.
The exemption underscores concerns raised by experts regarding the slow adaptation of laws to the advancements in autonomous vehicle technology. While other states like Texas and Arizona have updated their laws to accommodate self-driving cars, California has not made similar legal adjustments. Arizona and Texas, for instance, allow citations to be issued to the registered owner of an autonomous vehicle even in the absence of a human driver.
California, being a significant market for robotaxis, has more than 500 operational autonomous vehicles between Waymo and Cruise in San Francisco alone, as of August. This lack of legal updates raises broader questions about how autonomous vehicles will be regulated in the state.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles acknowledged the evolving nature of autonomous technology but asserted its commitment to enhancing the regulatory structure.
While the SFPD clarified its position, the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles Police Department's policies on ticketing autonomous vehicles remain unclear. This traffic ticket issue coincides with safety concerns in San Francisco regarding driverless vehicles, following reports of issues and a high-profile crash involving a pedestrian.
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