Autonomous vehicle companies operating in San Mateo County would need to establish emergency hotlines, share geofencing controls with local officials, and meet federal coordination standards under legislation introduced by U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin on Tuesday, July 28.
Mullin, a Democrat representing California's 15th Congressional District, announced the AV Emergency Response Coordination Act at a press conference in San Francisco alongside Mayor Daniel Lurie, San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen, and Police Chief Derrick Lew. The bill is scheduled for formal congressional introduction on Thursday, July 30, according to KQED.
"Seconds count during a crisis, and we've seen too many terrifying incidents of AVs interfering with police, fire fighters, and paramedics," Mullin said in a press release. "AV companies have to do better."
The legislation would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop minimum national emergency response standards for AV operators. It would also require companies to maintain a 24-hour hotline giving public officials direct access during emergencies and create a process for "geofencing," allowing officials to digitally block self-driving vehicles from entering active emergency zones.
Why it matters locally
Waymo already operates in San Mateo. In July, San Mateo police apprehended two teenagers from a Waymo robotaxi after the company detected suspected criminal activity and alerted authorities, NPR reported. Foster City-based Zoox is also preparing to begin public service in the near future, according to ABC7.
The bill follows a pattern of AV interference with emergency crews documented across the Bay Area. San Francisco Fire Department records obtained by The San Francisco Standard show firefighters have filed at least 31 internal reports since April 2025 documenting robotaxis obstructing emergency operations. In at least four cases, emergency vehicles encountered stalled Waymos while responding to life-threatening "Code 3" calls.
The incidents are specific and alarming. During San Francisco's Fourth of July celebration, which drew more than 100,000 spectators, dozens of Waymo vehicles became stranded in gridlock, with some running out of power and blocking key streets. Waymos also stopped in the middle of roads during a citywide power outage in December 2025.
At the press conference, Fire Chief Crispen said robotaxis pick up and drop off passengers directly in front of fire stations and ambulance deployment facilities, obstructing emergency access, according to TechCrunch.
What the bill does not do
The legislation does not include additional funding for public safety agencies that would need training to cooperate with AV companies. Mullin acknowledged the gap but said he believes the bill will attract bipartisan support.
Waymo Head of Federal Policy Tiffany Moore said in a statement that the company supports efforts to standardize how AV developers engage with first responders and that minimum guidelines would provide the industry and public safety community with a consistent framework.
NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison sent a letter to AV developers in early July stating the agency had "identified a clear pattern of driverless AVs interfering with law enforcement and other first responders." The letter demanded solutions by the end of July, a deadline two days away.
No committee assignment or hearing date has been announced for the bill. Neither the San Mateo Police Department nor the San Mateo Fire Department has commented publicly on the legislation.
