San Mateo police confirmed that a Waymo autonomous vehicle alerted officers to two teenagers inside who were consuming alcohol and firing a toy gun from the car. The department posted video footage showing officers approaching the vehicle with weapons drawn after the ride-share service stopped the car and contacted them. Police stated the teens were shooting Orbeez, which are water-filled polymer beads, while drinking Powerade. Local authorities noted that driving under the influence would have created a far more dangerous situation than the current circumstances involving the driverless car.
This incident highlights the operational reality of autonomous transport systems in public spaces. Waymo support pages indicate their team can review video footage or access live streams during a trip when an issue is reported. The case demonstrates how AI platforms function as active participants in safety enforcement rather than passive passengers. It also raises questions about the immediate response protocols when algorithms detect potential violations of the law.
- Waymo owned by Google can access live video during urgent circumstances.
- Police determined the projectiles were harmless Orbeez beads.
- The teens were detained for underage drinking and public disturbance.
