Senator Dave Cortese (D- San Jose) · SB 915 Fact Sheet · 1/16/24
SENATOR DAVE CORTESE
SB 915: The Autonomous Vehicle Service
Deployment and Data Transparency Act
SUMMARY
Right now, robotaxis and other autonomous vehicle
services are operating in California communities
without input from local government, concerned
residents, emergency responders, or workers.
BACKGROUND
In California, only the Public Utilities Commission
(CPUC) and the Department of Motor Vehicles
(DMV) authorize and govern autonomous vehicle
services, not local governments.
Over the last year, driverless vehicles have delayed
transport and medical care, blocked emergency
vehicles, and interfered during active firefighting
and crime scenes. First responders have been forced
to relocate their emergency vehicles because of
wayward autonomous vehicles.
These events have sparked a backlash in San
Francisco in recent months following a series of
traffic snarls and accidents. In one incident, a
pedestrian was run over and dragged by a Cruise
vehicle after she was struck by another car.
Although this resulted in the suspension of Cruise’s
deployment permit, the DMV only took disciplinary
action after it became clear that Cruise misled
California regulators about the severity of the event.
The San Francisco Fire Department has indicated
that more than 70 driverless vehicles have interfered
with emergency responders in 2023 alone.
Additionally, many communities have expressed
concerns over the number of driverless vehicles
allowed to operate on their local streets; hours
allowed for service/operation; locations of
vulnerable populations (e.g. schoolyards); and
damage to local streets and roads with heavier than
average displacement.
Unlike the process for regulating taxicabs, local
government are not authorized to establish rules and
regulations around the deployment of autonomous
vehicle services.
THIS BILL
SB 915 would prioritize local control in the decision
to deploy autonomous vehicle services. Contingent
upon an autonomous vehicle service company
receiving approval by the DMV and the CPUC, this
bill would prevent deployment in a geographic
location until a local government passes an
ordinance authorizing operations.
Each city, county, or city and county that adopts an
ordinance or resolution shall include, at a minimum,
a policy for entry into the business of providing
autonomous vehicle services. This policy must
include and consider:
Maximum rates for passenger fares (robotaxi)
Establishment of vehicle caps
Establishment of data transparency
Establishment of interoperability for emergency
responders
A process of ensuring ADA accessibility
Annual inspections for health and safety
By doing so, SB 915 will go a long way towards
repairing the flawed approach that governs the
deployment of robotaxis and similar services in
California.
SUPPORT
California Teamsters Public Affairs Council (co-
sponsor)
California Conference Board of the Amalgamated
Transit Union (co-sponsor)
California League of Cities (co-sponsor)
California Labor Federation
Senator Dave Cortese (D- San Jose) · SB 915 Fact Sheet · 1/16/24
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Evan Fern
Office of Senator Dave Cortese
(916) 651-4015
[email protected]