San Diego City Council Demands Local Control Over Autonomous Vehicles

The San Diego City Council unanimously approved an 8-0 resolution on September 14, 2026, urging Governor Gavin Newsom and the California Legislature to grant local authorities control over the deployment of autonomous vehicles. The move seeks to end the regulatory monopoly currently held by the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Public Utilities Commission, which allowed Waymo to launch robotaxi services in the city on September 1 without local input.

Councilmembers Sean Elo-Rivera and Marni von Wilpert co-introduced the resolution, citing public safety risks and the economic threat to taxi, rideshare, and delivery drivers. The council specifically urged the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority to prohibit autonomous vehicles from operating at the San Diego International Airport. The resolution also demands that operators comply with local noise laws, protect data privacy, limit empty-vehicle circulation, and establish safety protocols for cyberattacks or power outages.

Waymo representative Adam Lane opposed the resolution, calling it "extraordinarily premature" and stating that thousands of safe trips have already been completed. Lane cited company data claiming a 94% reduction in serious injury-causing crashes. In response, councilmembers argued that corporations should not use public streets as testing grounds without local accountability or consideration for impacted workers.