An act to add Sections 38760, 38761, 38762, and 40010 and 38762 to the Vehicle Code, relating to autonomous vehicles.
AB 33 would restrict the use of autonomous vehicles to deliver commercial goods directly to homes or businesses in California unless a human safety operator is physically present in the vehicle. It defines key terms such as “commercial goods” and “human safety operator,” and it directs the Department of Motor Vehicles to enforce the prohibition through administrative penalties. The bill also bars the DMV from issuing a deployment permit for driverless commercial-goods delivery until a later statute specifically authorizes it.
The bill further requires the DMV to prepare a report for the Legislature by January 1, 2031, or five years after testing begins, whichever is later, evaluating autonomous vehicle performance, public safety, and employment impacts in the transportation sector. That report must include crash and disengagement data and a recommendation on whether the state should keep, modify, or remove the human-safety-operator requirement. The DMV must consult with agencies including the CHP, Labor and Workforce Development Agency, Caltrans, and the Air Resources Board, and the Legislature states its intent to hold an oversight hearing after the report is issued.
AB 33 would add new provisions to the Vehicle Code creating a specific regulatory framework for autonomous vehicle delivery of commercial goods. It would prohibit driverless delivery operations on California highways, establish civil administrative fines of $10,000 for a first violation and $25,000 for subsequent violations, and allow the DMV to suspend or revoke a manufacturer’s permit for repeated violations. It also changes the enforcement posture by specifying that violations are not infractions and instead are subject to civil penalties deposited into the Motor Vehicle Account.
The bill appears to have been supported by a majority in the Legislature during earlier votes, suggesting substantial concern about safety, labor impacts, and the pace of autonomous vehicle deployment. The bill’s findings emphasize road safety and protection of delivery jobs, indicating a cautious or restrictive approach to the technology. However, the later action ordering the bill to the inactive file suggests that support was not sufficient to advance it to enactment, or that concerns emerged late in the process.
The main points of contention are likely the balance between innovation and regulation, public safety, and labor displacement. Supporters of the bill’s approach would be expected to favor requiring a human safety operator and delaying fully driverless commercial delivery until more evidence is available. Opponents would likely argue that the bill is too restrictive, could slow deployment of autonomous delivery technology, and may limit efficiency or economic benefits. The bill itself highlights worker displacement, crash risk, and infrastructure concerns as reasons for caution, while its reporting and oversight provisions reflect an attempt to revisit the issue after more data is collected.