Santa Monica residents go to war against Waymo, including obstructing driverless taxis

Los Angeles Times ^ | May 29, 2025 Updated 9 AM PT | Salvador Hernandez

[E. Pluribus Unum]

There’s a battle brewing in Santa Monica with a fleet of unmanned, electric Waymo vehicles on one side, and exhausted, weary locals on the other.

City officials, a judge and even police have been forced to intercede after residents who say the self-driving cars are a nuisance have banded together against the local 56-vehicle fleet. They’ve reached out to the city. They’ve called Waymo. Now, some are trying unconventional tactics.

Using cones, cars and sometimes themselves, residents have taken to blocking the Waymos from entering their company-funded parking lot, so much so that the company has called the cops on them a half dozen times.

“I want the noise stopped,” said Darius Boorn, a resident who lives next to one of the lots and has a front row seat to the antics. “I thought it was cool, and then those freaking noises started. And then I thought, ‘Oh no, this can’t be happening.’ ”

For city officials, the clashes have come as a surprise. They had no idea Waymo set up charging stations in their backyard. According to emails obtained by The Times, the city only learned about the Waymo lots after complaints from residents started coming in.

In light of the revelation, a Waymo spokesperson said the company “will continue to learn and improve how we introduce ourselves to new communities when we arrive.”

But for many, the company has already worn out its welcome.

“This was not what we signed up for,” said Christopher Potts, a 51-year-old Santa Monica resident who lives near one of the lots.

In January, after months of the self-driving taxis operating on the beach city’s roads, Waymo opened two charging stations for more than 50 vehicles, establishing Santa Monica as a base for operations. The white, electric cars with rotating sensor on the roof first drew...

[Wuli]

Will they get out the baseball bats??

[Tell It Right]

When the Dims are done it’ll be the opposite: the robots will tell YOU when YOU can and can’t leave.

[fidelis]

I see these all over the Phoenix area, especially around the airports. It gives me the creeps to see a car driving around with no driver, sometimes with no occupants at all.

[dowcaet]

““This was not what we signed up for,” said Christopher Potts, a 51-year-old Santa Monica resident who lives near one of the lots.“

It’s what you voted for Christopher. When will these people wake up???

[Gen.Blather]

They didn’t say what the noise was. Is it that beep, beep to alert blind people? You can hear those traffic signals a block away. Very annoying.

[Nervous Tick]

>> It’s what you voted for Christopher.

It’s really hard to dredge up any concern for progressives crying “help me! I have repeatedly raped myself!”

[Veto!]

We lived in Santa Monica for years and both of my kids graduated from Santa Monica High School.

We would have moved if this dangerous krep was happening then.

[Jim W N]

Unmanned, electric Waymo vehicles

Sounds dangerous.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Dangerous? And what if the bean counters prove otherwise?

It’s the future man and it’s gonna be awesome!

[mgstarr]

I live in Santa Monica and yes they are everywhere. While it is disconcerting to see a driverless car, I find them preferable to the damn bicyclists who obey no traffic signs at all.

[Jim W N]

Future from gov’t coercion: dangerous.

Future from free pursuits w/o gov’t interference: delightful.

[TangoLimaSierra]

Is it that beep, beep to alert blind people?

From an article I read a few months ago, the beeping was at the auto-charging lot where as they are leaving they beep if one of the other cars moves in it's path. Certainly unneeded by an autonomous car. At 4 AM, I guess it's annoying.

Would seem to be an easy programming fix to not beep when at the lot.

[deport]

I think that is way mo than I want to be around.

[Ronaldus Magnus III]

As usual with liberals, it is WayMo than they bargained for

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Key the cars. Molotov Cocktails. C’mon Dems. You know what to do.

[jpl]

Liberals never learn the lesson about unintended consequences, most of them are simply too cognitively challenged.

[hoosierham]

Get car-napped by a hacked “autonomous “ vehicle.Doors locked .Who you gonna call...

[deport]

It’s the future man and it’s gonna be awesome!

********

Whose going to put the going to put the semen
in them? Will that become a side line job or
one to stand in line for?

[thegagline]

They didn’t say what the noise was. Is it that beep, beep to alert blind people?

Yes they did. It is clearly stated in the article.