California Passes New Law: Robotaxis That Hinder Emergency Services Will Face Fines

On October 2, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1246, which mandates that robotaxis must arrange for local personnel to assist police and firefighters in emergency situations if the vehicles malfunction or impede emergency responses. If a vehicle obstructs emergency personnel for more than 30 minutes, the operating company may face penalties.

This law introduces a series of regulations for autonomous vehicles, targeting scenarios where vehicles malfunction or interfere with emergency operations, aiming to enhance safety and response efficiency. Companies failing to meet these obligations will also face accountability.

Prior to the law's introduction, California experienced several high-profile incidents involving robotaxi malfunctions: vehicles stalled and disrupted traffic, entered crime scenes, and impeded the duties of police and firefighters. Reports indicate that many of these incidents involved Waymo, the largest robotaxi operator in the United States, which operates approximately 4,000 autonomous vehicles, with about 1,200 in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Earlier this year, investigations revealed that Waymo vehicles often required assistance from police and firefighters to be physically driven away from problematic situations. These incidents prompted state and federal lawmakers to call for stricter regulations on robotaxis, particularly regarding how vehicles should respond when encountering emergency personnel. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration even reached out to autonomous technology developers, requesting them to propose "solutions."

According to the new law, autonomous technology developers can only use remote operators who are located in the United States and possess a valid U.S. driver's license. This regulation addresses how companies can intervene in vehicle operations remotely when issues arise.

In the event of a total system failure, the law requires autonomous companies to notify local governments of the vehicle's location and operational status and to have accident response technicians available to assist with vehicle accidents and road blockages. If a robotaxi obstructs emergency personnel's tasks for more than 30 minutes in urgent situations, the company may also face fines.

The law will take effect in July 2028. The California Department of Motor Vehicles, which oversees autonomous vehicles, will also develop implementation guidelines, including the time frame within which companies must respond to accident or malfunction notifications. ITHome reported the story.