California adopted regulations allowing police to issue traffic citations directly to autonomous vehicle companies starting July 1, 2026.
The rules close a legal loophole that previously prevented ticketing for moving violations without a human driver. Manufacturers now face direct accountability for their vehicles' on-road behavior.
Police will issue a Notice of AV Noncompliance to the manufacturer for each violation. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will investigate these incidents to determine remediation measures.
The DMV may restrict fleet sizes, suspend operations, or revoke permits for serious offenses. This framework increases oversight for major operators including Waymo and Cruise.