Could Driverless Patrol Cars Be Next? N.C. Police Chief Pitches the Idea

Raleigh police are eyeing a futuristic proposal that could bring more patrol cars to downtown streets — ones that can drive themselves.

“It adds a sense of safety,” Boyce told the Raleigh City Council during a retreat in September.

The chief mentioned the cars at the tail-end of a presentation that included updates on the city’s public safety efforts and downtown crime statistics.

“It’s just going to augment what we’re already doing here in the city of Raleigh,” Boyce said.

In October 2025, the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office became the first jurisdiction in the country to adopt self-driving vehicles into their fleet through its own partnership with Policing Lab.