A U.S. congressperson is stepping in to regulate robotaxis after a string of San Francisco traffic fiascos in which Waymos have stalled, lost battery and required physical tows, most infamously during the widely-documented Fourth of July car-pocalypse. Mayor Daniel Lurie joined Rep. Kevin Mullin on the steps of Fire Station 4 in Mission Bay on Tuesday as he proposed new federal standards that would — on paper — keep robotaxis like Waymo from blocking emergency first responders, driving through active crime scenes, or backing up intersections. Lurie welcomed Waymo onto car-free Market Street in 2025, and San Francisco International Airport gave approval for the company to take passengers to and from the airport. Yet despite his high profile, and previous support for what he called “safe, reliable, and modern transportation options,” the mayor has little authority to regulate the standards for autonomous vehicles operating statewide. That power rests with the California Public Utilities Commission and Department of Motor Vehicles, who have not publicly responded to Lurie’s calls for tighter regulation nor Mullin’s legislation after being contacted by Mission Local. But with today’s announcement, it’s clear that federal lawmakers aren’t waiting for those agencies to act. If approved, Mullin’s “AV Emergency Response Coordination Act” would establish “uniform safety standards” nationally, requiring robotaxis to share the road with police officers, firefighters and paramedics. Mullin and other officials cited a list of traffic incidents in cities such as Austin, where a Waymo vehicle blocked authorities trying to respond to a mass shooting. The bill, according to Mullin, would establish a 24/7 hotline for public officials to communicate directly with autonomous vehicle companies. It would also, he said, create a process for local public officials to issue requests for robotaxis to avoid certain areas during emergencies using geofencing. The bill would apply to all