Paresh Dave

SAN FRANCISCO, Reuters – General Motors Co. (NYSE:)’s self driving technology unit Cruise rebuffed claims by San Francisco authorities that its robotaxis were illegally parking. They claim they are entitled to stop traffic and block it for short stops.

Last week, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency(SFMTA), challenged Cruise’s request for a permit to use robotaxis in San Francisco. The agency claimed that Cruise was illegally parking twice during testing. This created safety concerns and increased traffic. The agency demanded that Cruise be denied the permit until Cruise could prove greater competence.

California Public Utilities Commission will decide if Cruise is allowed to charge the public rides.

Cruise claimed that state law allows commercial vehicles to park off the curb when it is reasonably necessary for passengers to be loaded or unloaded. San Francisco did not have any restrictions on the area cited by Cruise in its complaint to SFMTA.

“Cruise’s operations thus are not only explicitly legally permissible under the Vehicle Code but are consistent with the lawful operation of other commercial vehicles registered in California,” the company said in a letter to the CPUC on Monday.

SFMTA also condemned Cruise’s plans to not provide service in low income and minority areas or accommodate wheelchair users. Cruise stated that Disability Rights California also raised similar concerns to the CPUC.

Cruise said that their vehicles are able to fit into the backseat of a folded wheelchair or a passenger. Cruise stated that it has long-term plans to serve all of San Francisco.