Robotaxi Traffic Violations in California: The New Notice of Noncompliance and What It Means After a Crash

Last updated November 14, 2026

By Ron McMinn, Esq. | Official sources checked November 12, 2026.

Read this article in Español.

For years, a driverless car that ran a red light or made an illegal turn in California left police with no driver to cite. A 2024 law changed that. Since July 1, 2026, an officer who sees a driverless vehicle commit an alleged traffic violation can issue a notice to the company that makes the technology, and the company must report it to the DMV.

Short answer: Assembly Bill 1777 (2024, Chapter 682) added Vehicle Code section 38752, which created the “notice of autonomous vehicle noncompliance.” Under the DMV’s industry memo AVIM 2026-002, effective July 1, 2026, the manufacturer must submit the notice to the DMV within 72 hours, or within 24 hours if the officer marks it for priority review. If a robotaxi hurt you, the notice may help show what happened, but it is only one piece of evidence.

What the law does

• Who gets the notice. Section 38752 lets a peace officer issue the notice to the manufacturer for an alleged violation of the Vehicle Code or a local traffic ordinance. The notice goes to the company, not to a passenger.
• Reporting to the DMV. The manufacturer must give the notice to the DMV within 72 hours of receiving it.
• No presumption. The statute says the notice does not create a presumption that the vehicle is unsafe, and the manufacturer can contest it.
• Start date. The section became operative once the DMV adopted regulations. The DMV announced on April 28, 2026 that it had adopted new autonomous vehicle regulations, and AVIM 2026-002 took effect on July 1, 2026.

How officers deliver it

According to AVIM 2026-002, which cites title 13 of the California Code of Regulations, sections 227.68 and 228.42:

• The officer may contact the vehicle’s remote operator and place the notice where the registration and insurance information is kept in the vehicle.
• The officer may give the notice to the manufacturer’s designee who arrives at the scene, or send it to the manufacturer if there was no traffic stop.
• Priority review applies when the officer believes the vehicle’s driving presented a clear or potential danger or risk of injury to others.
• Failing to submit a notice on time may lead to restriction, suspension, or revocation of the company’s testing or deployment permit.

Other rules from the same law

AB 1777 also amended section 38750 and added section 38751. Among other things:

• Autonomous vehicles must capture and preserve sensor data for 30 seconds before a collision, and keep it for three years (section 38750).
• Beginning July 1, 2026, manufacturers must have a dedicated emergency response phone line answered within 30 seconds, and a two way communication device in the vehicle, so first responders can reach the company (section 38751).
• Manufacturers must respond to geofencing directions from emergency officials and move their vehicles out of the affected area within two minutes (section 38751).

What it means if a robotaxi hurt you

• Ask about a notice. If police came to the scene, ask whether a notice of noncompliance was issued, and get the report number.
• Preserve the sensor data. The law requires the company to keep pre-collision sensor data, but a written preservation demand early on is still wise.
• Do not rely on the notice alone. A notice is not a finding of fault, and it can be contested. Photos, witness names, your own video, and your medical records remain important.
• Know whose insurance applies. Section 38750 requires proof of insurance, a surety bond, or self-insurance of $5,000,000 before a company can test or deploy. Who pays in a particular crash still depends on the facts.

Read more on our robotaxi and rideshare accidents page, in driverless car crash claims in California, and in robotaxi rules and who pays if you are hurt.

Most injury lawsuits must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1.

Talk to us

Win Attorneys handles personal injury and government claims matters statewide from our only office in Tustin. We speak Spanish and Vietnamese. Federal safety inquiries can also matter. See our article on NHTSA’s November 2026 query into robotaxis passing stopped school buses.

Call us at (657) 235-8097, write through our contact page, or start online with our intake form. Office: 17291 Irvine Blvd., Suite 210, Tustin, CA 92780.

Sources

• AB 1777 (2024), Chapter 682, bill text.
• Vehicle Code section 38750, section 38751, and section 38752.
• California DMV, AVIM 2026-002, Notice of Autonomous Vehicle Noncompliance Reporting Requirements (PDF).
• California DMV, news release on new autonomous vehicle regulations.

Frequently asked questions

Can police ticket a driverless car in California?

Since July 1, 2026, a peace officer can issue a notice of autonomous vehicle noncompliance to the manufacturer for an alleged traffic violation, under Vehicle Code section 38752 and the DMV’s AVIM 2026-002.

Who receives the notice?

The manufacturer of the autonomous technology, not a passenger. The officer may leave it where the registration and insurance information is kept, hand it to the company’s designee, or send it to the company.

How fast must the company report it to the DMV?

Within 72 hours of receiving it, or within 24 hours if the officer marks the notice for priority review.

Does a notice prove the robotaxi was at fault in my crash?

No. Section 38752 says the notice does not create a presumption that the vehicle is unsafe, and the manufacturer can contest it. It is one piece of evidence.

Is the robotaxi’s sensor data saved after a crash?

Section 38750 requires autonomous vehicles to capture sensor data for 30 seconds before a collision and keep it for three years. Sending a written preservation demand early is still wise.

How long do I have to file an injury claim?

Most injury lawsuits in California must be filed within two years under Code of Civil Procedure section 335.1. If a public entity is involved, a claim is usually due within six months.

Can I talk to a lawyer in Spanish or Vietnamese?

Yes. We speak Spanish and Vietnamese. Call (657) 235-8097. Our only office is at 17291 Irvine Blvd., Suite 210, Tustin, CA 92780.

This article is general information and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case depends on its own facts.