Can Driverless Cars Be Ticketed In CA?

SAN BRUNO, CA — After a robotaxi was pulled over by police in the Bay Area last Friday for making an illegal U-turn, it was "a first for both officers."

The San Bruno Police Department was conducting a DUI checkpoint when officers spotted a Waymo vehicle driving erratically. Officers prompted the vehicle to the side of the road like they would normally, but since there was no one at the wheel, they weren't able to issue a citation.

"That's right... no driver, no hands, no clue," police wrote in a social media post. "Our citation books don't have a box for 'robot.'"

The circumstance made headlines all over California and raised questions of how to deal with driverless cars that violate the rules of the road. State law seems to say that traffic tickets can only be issued to a human driver.

Waymo spokesperson Julia Ilina told the Los Angeles Times that Waymo vehicles are subject to strict ongoing oversight by California regulators and that their robotaxis are "designed to respect the rules of the road."

However, reports that such vehicles have racked up tens of thousands of dollars in traffic and parking tickets seem to say otherwise.

Waymo incurred some $65,065 in fines for violations like obstructing traffic, disregarding street sweeping restrictions and parking in prohibited areas in San Francisco, The Washington Post reported in March.

Meanwhile, The Post also reported that Waymo cars received 75 tickets, incurring $543 in outstanding fines in Los Angeles in 2024.

So far, there is one effort underway that will attempt to address the issue, but some are still questioning whether it will be enough.

Assembly Bill 1777, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last year, will allow law enforcement agencies to report instances of "noncompliance" to the Department of Motor Vehicles.

While agencies like the San Francisco County Transportation Authority have said the new law will "address regulatory gaps," labor advocates like the Teamsters Union are calling the legislation "backwards."

"Instead of giving law enforcement officers the ability to fine or ticket [autonomous vehicle] companies for traffic violations, officers may only issue a 'notice of noncompliance' for traffic violations committed," the Teamsters noted, as reported by NBC.

“I bet everyday Californians wish that, when they made a mistake driving, they got a courtesy note instead of an expensive ticket,” said Peter Finn, the Western Region vice president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, according to Mission Local.

Meanwhile, in states like Texas, where autonomous vehicles like Waymo are also present, law enforcement can fine the company or the vehicle owner directly when a robot violates the rules of the road. Arizona is similarly strict in its approach.