Minneapolis Proposes Mandatory Safety Operators for Autonomous Vehicles Including Waymo

Four Minneapolis City Council members (approximately one-third of the total council) have introduced an ordinance banning fully driverless operation of autonomous vehicles and requiring a licensed safety operator paid at least the minimum wage to have immediate access to steering, braking, and acceleration controls inside the vehicle.

• Regulatory Content: Prevents autonomous vehicles from operating alone on public roads and mandates the presence of a human safety operator.
• Current Situation: No similar measures have been proposed or passed in other U.S. cities, but over 65 bills regulating autonomous vehicle technology have been introduced in 25 states.
• Market Reaction: Mayor Jacob Frey has not expressed support for the ordinance and stated he would lead efforts to expand robotaxi deployment at the state level. Currently, there are no state laws regulating autonomous vehicles in Minneapolis.

If passed following a public hearing on September 22, the ordinance is scheduled to take effect in October of next year.