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Torts/Personal Injury,
Evidence,
Administrative/Regulatory

Jul. 15, 2026

First driverless ticket may become evidence in AV litigation

California's new autonomous vehicle enforcement rules may transform traffic violations into critical evidence in future litigation by creating records that help courts, insurers and regulators determine responsibility when no human driver is behind the wheel.

Kenneth P. Williams

Shareholder
Segal McCambridge

Email: kwilliams@smsm.com

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First driverless ticket may become evidence in AV litigation
Shutterstock

Just days after California's new autonomous vehicle enforcement rules took effect, the evidentiary stakes became easier to see. Over the Fourth of July weekend, several Waymo vehicles reportedly had to be towed from San Francisco streets after their batteries drained while they were stuck in heavy post-fireworks traffic.