50 Pages Posted: 1 Jan 2015 Last revised: 6 Oct 2015

Date Written: April 22, 2015

Abstract

This Article examines the application of criminal law to autonomous vehicles. The Article begins by providing a background of autonomous vehicles. The Article then examines the general purposes of punishment and traffic laws. The Article next analyzes criminal responsibility for the operator with regard to rules of the road violations, driving under the influence, reckless driving, and vehicular manslaughter. The Article then examines location specific crimes, physical interference with a vehicle, and hacking. This Article argues that the law should be amended because the current application of criminal and traffic laws to autonomous vehicles will make programming the vehicles challenging and enforcing the laws difficult.