New September 1 law forces select drivers to get a permit to use their car in US state – certain brand to be hit hardest

A NEW law coming to a US state on September 1 will require drivers of certain cars to obtain a permit.

The restriction, signed into law through the SB 2807 bill, may even prove to be a stumbling block for Elon Musk’s Tesla.

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Fully autonomous cars, like Waymo and Tesla’s new RoboTaxi service (both pictured) are under threat[/caption]

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A new state bill is forcing these types of vehicles to have a permit[/caption]

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It comes as Tesla’s RoboTaxi service comes to Austin, Texas[/caption]

As reported by Engadget, fully autonomous cars will be required to have a permit to operate in the state of Texas.

This comes as the state’s governor, Greg Abbott, signed in a law that requires authorization from the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles for self-driving cars on public streets that will operate without human interaction.

And this law comes in just as Tesla’s robotaxi service has been launched in Austin this week, with certain guests invited to ride in fully autonomous Model Ys.

While the ruling doesn’t go into effect until a few months later, Tesla’s robotaxi launch may have avoided the restrictions, as all rides are accompanied by a human “safety monitor” in the front passenger seat.

The law, which can allow state authorities to revoke permits, also requires companies to provide methods of dealing with self-driving cars in emergency situations to police and first responders.

Experts believe this could become an issue for Tesla down the line, as well as other brands like Waymo – which also operates an autonomous ride-hailing service in Austin.

Tesla made headlines last month after irking locals in Farmington Hills, Michigan, by taking up around 100 parking lot spots at a shopping center.

The EV firm is under pressure from Michigan authorities after a host of unsold Cybertrucks were discovered parked up.

Their place in the lot is now prompting concerns about violations of local zoning regulations, while several local residents and social media users have posted images and videos showing rows of Cybertrucks lined up.

Speculation is rife, with many believing the site, which is near a Tesla service centre in West Bloomfield, is being used as an overflow to manage unsold inventory.

Some 100 vehicles have taken up the space, although Tesla employees speaking to CBS Detroit say the property is owned by the same party that manages the nearby service center.

Elsewhere, a fleet of robots with built-in police sirens, strobe lights and the ability to use a “Darth Vader” voice are ready to take the fight to thieves in Jacksonville, Florida.

Paesol Veerakitti, an engineer and entrepreneur, has developed “Guardian 1”, a robotic security system designed to help protect pricey catalytic converters from being stolen.

Reports revealed thieves struck Duval’s Ford dealership in the city earlier in the year and made off with hundreds of thousands of dollars in precious metals.

However, neighbouring Nimnicht Chevrolet was untouched – seemingly because it was protected by a five-foot, flashing blue robot named Guardian 1 – built by Veerakitti and his startup Robocor.

Guardian 1 is specifically designed to guard against catalytic converter theft by patrolling dealership lots and using AI to detect intruders.

The theft of catalytic converters has been driven by the high value of precious metals they contain and has surged dramatically in recent years – creating a significant financial burden for car dealerships and individuals alike.