California Bills Take Aim at Robotaxi Regulation

A series of proposed laws in California could clarify how commercial autonomous vehicles (or robotaxis) are regulated and give local governments more control over their deployment, reports Rebecca Bellan in Tech Crunch. “One bill, SB 915, stands out because it could give cities more power to set their own rules around robotaxis — things like hours of operation and appropriate pickup and drop-off locations.”

Self-driving cars became a major issue in California last year, when a state commission approved their deployment on city streets despite vocal opposition from local leaders. 

Bellan outlines the proposed bills that will be considered in this legislative session, describing how each would impact AV deployment and regulation. Other bills require human operators in autonomous heavy-duty vehicles, call for geofencing protocols and more robust reporting, and open the door to fining car manufacturers for infractions committed by autonomous cars. None of the bills would allow cities to ban AVs outright, but industry leaders say the patchwork of regulations that will likely result from local control could slow the industry’s growth.