Minneapolis City Council passes autonomous vehicle restrictions

The Minneapolis City Council has narrowly passed an ordinance that would require a human operator and a special license for all autonomous vehicles operating within the city. The measure was driven in part by Council Member Jason Chavez, who argued during discussions that Waymo self-driving vehicles pose a threat to pets, stating, “Literally, cats being murdered by these vehicles.”

Mayor Jacob Frey has announced his intention to veto the ordinance, calling it a “backdoor ban” that “doesn’t make sense.” Frey stated that the city intends to continue pursuing innovative transportation technologies despite acknowledging safety concerns.

Supporters of the ordinance argue that mandating human operators would effectively end autonomous taxi services in Minneapolis and lead to higher fares. Opponents of the technology maintain that driverless vehicles pose public safety risks and threaten driving jobs.