Minneapolis approves requiring person inside driverless vehicles, Frey plans veto

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The Minneapolis City Council has approved an ordinance that would require a person to be inside and act as a "human monitor" for driverless rideshare vehicles that operate within the city.

Minneapolis robotaxi ordinance

What we know:

After previously advancing through committees, the full council approved the measure by a vote of 7-6 on Thursday, with members Elliott Payne, Robin Wonsley, Jamal Osman, Soren Stevenson, Jason Chavez, Aisha Chughtai and Aurin Chowdhury opting to pass the increased regulations.

The ordinance mandates a city-issued license that requires a human safety monitor, with a driver’s license, to be in a driverless vehicle during operation and have immediate access to "steering, braking, and acceleration." Essentially, a driver, even if the vehicle’s artificial intelligence is doing the actual driving. That monitor would also be paid minimum wage.

The measure would make Minneapolis the first U.S. city to require a person in the driver’s seat for what’s become known as "robotaxis."

Dig deeper:

Supporters of the technology, popularized by companies such as Waymo, argue that the use of autonomous vehicles makes travel safer – both on the roads and for those opting to use them, citing reduced crashes and potential for assault and discrimination.

Meanwhile, critics argue the advancement of the technology poses a threat to current rideshare workers.

What they're saying:

"This policy seeks to set a standardized set of policies that protect our workers. It’s not passed for a specific company," said council member Wonsley prior to the vote. "It aims to set a threshold of expectations of what is needed to protect our workers. This is a starting place."

"No other city in the U.S. requires this, and the authors [of the ordinance] have refused to wait to move this forward until we receive a full research report," said council member Elizabeth Shaffer prior to the vote. "We live in a free market society. Our residents, including those in the disability community, want the ability to choose… I disagree that we are doing any meaningful action here… I think this is part of why other municipalities often look at Minneapolis with concern: When we jump out ahead of research and create policy that is affecting other jurisdictions, people wonder what we are doing."

The backstory:

Waymo has been present on Minneapolis streets for months, using its tech to map city streets ahead of any potential rollout.

The Minneapolis City Council also previously pushed for a measure that prompted the Minnesota Legislature to eventually pass a deal that set minimum pay standards for Lyft and Uber drivers.

Frey plans veto

What's next:

Noting the irony of requiring a person to be inside an autonomous vehicle, representatives for Mayor Jacob Frey said he plans to veto the ordinance.

"Requiring a driver in a driverless car doesn’t make sense," Frey said in a statement. "Minneapolis is open for business, open to innovative technology, and open to a variety of transportation options. Thoughtful regulation for safety is necessary, but not through a backdoor ban."

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