San Diego City Council seeks local control over Waymo

The San Diego City Council unanimously passed a resolution urging California state leaders to grant local jurisdictions the authority to decide how autonomous vehicles, such as Waymo, operate on city streets.

Under current California law, regulatory power over driverless cars rests entirely with the state, specifically the California Public Utilities Commission and the DMV. This lack of local oversight follows Waymo’s official launch of service in San Diego on September 1.

The resolution, introduced by Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, seeks to return control to cities and includes several specific demands:

• Allowing police and fire departments to track, stop, or move empty autonomous vehicles during emergencies. • Requesting the regional Airport Authority to ban driverless cars from operating at the airport to address safety concerns and protect the livelihoods of taxi and rideshare drivers.

Public comments during the session highlighted concerns from transport workers regarding job security and potential public safety risks, including reports of autonomous units blocking traffic or emergency equipment.