The California Department of Motor Vehicles announced Friday that it released proposed regulations allowing self-driving heavy-duty trucks and other large vehicles to test on state public roads.
Under the new proposal, autonomous vehicles weighing 10,001 pounds or more could be tested with a DMV-approved permit. The regulations also update requirements for light-duty vehicles, incorporating recent legislative changes under AB 1777, signed into law in 2024.
The updated guidelines enhance data reporting, establish new protocols for autonomous vehicle interactions with first responders, and create a system for law enforcement to report potential traffic violations involving autonomous vehicles.
Regulators say self-driving heavy-duty trucks are already being tested in other states, including Texas, Arizona and Arkansas. California, however, is the only state with regulations that explicitly ban them, according to The Associated Press.
The proposed rules’ release initiates a 45-day public comment period ending June 9. Written comments can be submitted by email to LADRegulations@dmv.ca.gov. The draft regulations are available on the DMV’s Autonomous Vehicles webpage.
After the public comment period, the DMV will host a public hearing to gather additional input. Details about the hearing will be announced later.
The new regulations come after the California Legislature passed a bill in 2023 to require human drivers aboard self-driving trucks. However, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill, citing that current laws governing self-driving vehicles were sufficient.