A Waymo robotaxi in San Mateo stopped, placed a 911 call, and waited for police after two teenagers began shooting gel beads (Orbeez) from the back seat while drinking. The department’s Facebook post said officers arrived, removed the youths, and confirmed the misbehavior.
Waymo’s autonomous fleet is programmed to detect rule violations and alert authorities, a capability the company has highlighted before. Last year, a similar incident in Los Angeles involved two men reported for drinking inside a robotaxi, prompting police involvement.
The San Mateo police detained the teens, illustrating how driverless services can enforce passenger conduct and potentially deter reckless behavior. As autonomous vehicles become more common, regulators and operators may look to tighten onboard monitoring and penalties for misuse.
