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Colorado law leaves Denver unable to cite driverless cars for moving violations
Denver police say state law provides no way to issue a traffic citation when an autonomous vehicle has no driver. State Rep. Sheila Lieder says she is exploring legislation as robotaxis operate in the city and questions grow over accountability.
Denver police cannot issue a traffic citation to a driverless vehicle for a moving violation under current Colorado law, leaving a gap in how authorities can respond when an autonomous car breaks traffic rules.
The department said there is no mechanism in state law to cite an autonomous vehicle when no driver is present. Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure can issue parking citations to the vehicles, but says it cannot limit how many autonomous-vehicle companies operate in the city.
The issue is drawing attention as Waymo vehicles operate in Denver and other companies may consider entering the market. Recent incidents have included a Waymo that stopped in the road before a crash, as well as videos of autonomous cars traveling on wet pavement and moving through a farmers market.
“There’s absolutely a need for guardrails on autonomous vehicles,” said state Rep. Sheila Lieder, a Jefferson County Democrat. “My mind is who gets the ticket?”
Colorado lawmakers approved autonomous vehicles in 2017. Lieder has sponsored legislation to set parameters for autonomous semitrailer trucks and said she plans to bring a similar proposal back in the coming legislative session. She is also considering what broader rules may be needed, saying lawmakers have “a lot of stakeholdering to do.”
The enforcement gap leaves questions about accountability as driverless vehicles become more visible on Denver streets: police can cite a human driver for a traffic infraction, but current state law does not provide a comparable process when the vehicle is operating without one.