Vehicles: removal: autonomous vehicles.

Existing law authorizes a peace officer, or a public employee who is engaged in directing traffic or enforcing parking laws, to remove a vehicle under specified circumstances, including when the vehicle is found or is operating on the highway with a registration expiration date in excess of 6 months before the date it is found or operated on the highway, or displaying a license plate or registration sticker that was not issued for that vehicle. This bill would additionally authorize a peace officer or specified public employee, as specified, to remove a vehicle that uses autonomous technology without a valid permit that is required to operate the vehicle on public roads. The bill would authorize the release of the vehicle after the registered owner of, or person in control of, the autonomous vehicle furnishes the storing law enforcement agency with proof of current registration and a valid driver's license, and either a valid permit that is required to operate the autonomous vehicle using autonomous technology on public roads or a declaration or sworn statement to the Department of Motor Vehicles that states that the autonomous vehicle will not be operated using autonomous technology, as specified. The bill would make additional technical, nonsubstantive changes.