Who gets the ticket when police pull over a driver-less vehicle?
Cops in Providence, R.I., pulled over a May Mobility shuttle because they didn’t know what to make of it, according to the Associated Press.
“It looked like an oversize golf cart,” Police Chief Hugh Clements said.
According to the report, the vehicle was part of the Little Roady shuttle service that launched hours earlier. The vehicles attendant chatted with police who issued no tickets or warnings, but were just inquiring about the automobile. The shuttle carries six passengers, including an attendant who navigates trickier turns on the route.
May’s chief operating officer told the AP that they “welcome” police officers pulling over their vehicles and asking questions.
“It’s a great opportunity to be able to have the dialogue about who are we, why are we out on the street,” said COO Alisyn Malek.
Officer Clements cautiously approved of what he saw.
“It’s important we embrace this type of technology slowly and work out any nuances,” he told the AP.
This particular shuttle operates for free, servicing areas where commuter trains are otherwise difficult to reach. It’s part of a shuttle program sponsored by Volkswagen, which reportedly agreed to provide the vehicles in exchange for it’s some of its cars failures to comply with emission tests standards.
