California law forces robotaxi firms to aid and not block emergency crews

California has enacted Senate Bill 1246, a law aimed at improving safety when autonomous vehicles malfunction or interfere with emergency services. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the measure, which requires robotaxi providers—including Tesla, Waymo and Zoox—to station local technicians and to notify cities about vehicle status during widespread outages. Remote operators must be based in the United States and hold a U.S. driver’s license.

Firms face fines if a self-driving car blocks police or fire personnel for longer than 30 minutes. The legislation responds to a series of incidents, chiefly involving Waymo’s fleet, where robotaxis stalled traffic or entered crime scenes, prompting calls from lawmakers and the NHTSA for stricter oversight. The California Department of Motor Vehicles will issue detailed guidelines, and the law takes effect in July 2028.