Robotaxis are expanding. But as they become more common, so too is the pushback from taxi drivers, unions and city lawmakers.

In New York, Governor Hochul withdrew a proposal that would have allowed driverless robotaxis outside of New York City due to opposition from taxi drivers and state lawmakers. Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., labor unions are fighting legislation that could legalize commercial robotaxis, while lawmakers are considering a fee on autonomous vehicles to fund metro upgrades.

The situation is similar in San Francisco, where Mayor Lurie now calls for tougher regulations after repeated incidents with Waymo’s driverless cars. California police can now formally cite manufacturers when their driverless cars break traffic laws.

While Congress has not yet passed comprehensive robotaxi legislation, federal regulators have stepped up their scrutiny of the technology. The Trump administration warned autonomous vehicle companies that vehicles unable to safely interact with first responders pose a danger to the public.

The debate is about more than just safety; it’s also about how quickly these fleets should expand, what companies must prove before they do so and how much control cities and states should have over their operations. The critics want multi-stage testing permits, restrictions on marketing terms and multiple kinds of sensors to ensure safe operation.