California has passed a new law requiring autonomous vehicle (AV) companies to provide local, on-the-ground support when robotaxis break down, crash, or interfere with emergency responders. Under Senate Bill 1246, companies could face penalties if an AV blocks police, firefighters, or other first responders for more than 30 minutes, TechCrunch reports.
The law also requires AV companies to use U.S.-based remote drivers with U.S. driver’s licenses and to notify local jurisdictions about vehicle locations during system-wide failures. Companies must also provide local incident technicians to assist with accidents and disabled vehicles.
The legislation follows several high-profile robotaxi incidents involving traffic disruptions and interference with emergency scenes. The law takes effect in July 2028, with California’s DMV expected to establish additional requirements, including response-time guidelines.
