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California police pull over self-driving Waymo for illegal U-turn — but officers can't ticket it
NBC from AP ^ | September 30, 2025 | staff

Posted on 10/01/2025 7:06:42 PM PDT by xxqqzz

SAN FRANCISCO — Police in Northern California were understandably perplexed when they pulled over a Waymo taxi after it made an illegal U-turn, only to find no driver behind the wheel and therefore, no one to ticket.

The San Bruno Police Department wrote in a now-viral weekend social media post that officers were conducting a DUI operation early Saturday when a self-driving Waymo made the illegal turn in front of them.

Officers stopped the vehicle but declined to write a ticket as their "citation books don't have a box for 'robot'."

"That's right … no driver, no hands, no clue," read the post, which was accompanied by photos of an officer peering into the car.

Officers contacted Waymo to report what they called a "glitch," and in the post, they said they hope reprogramming will deter more illegal moves.

The department's Facebook post has generated more than 500 comments, with many people outraged that police didn't ticket the company. People also wanted to know how police got the car to pull over.

But San Bruno Sgt. Scott Smithmatungol said officers can only ticket a human driver or operator for a moving violation, unlike parking tickets that can be left with the vehicle.

A new state law that kicks in next year will allow police to report moving violations to the Department of Motor Vehicles, which is figuring out the specifics, including potential penalties, the Los Angeles Times reports.

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


TOPICS: US: California
KEYWORDS: automotive; california; selfdriving; waymo; waymoo
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1 posted on 10/01/2025 7:06:42 PM PDT by xxqqzz
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To: xxqqzz

gotta give the robot credit for having the brass to execute the illegal Uturn right in front of a squad car,

ha


2 posted on 10/01/2025 7:09:07 PM PDT by faithhopecharity ("Politicians aren't born, they're excreted." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 to 43 BCE))
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To: faithhopecharity

What happens if two Waymos collide with one another. Which one gets the ticket?

What if a Waymo runs over and kills someone? Who gets charged and goes to jail?


3 posted on 10/01/2025 7:12:09 PM PDT by Tom Tetroxide (Psalm 146:3 "Do not trust in princes, in the Son of Man, who has no salvation.")
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To: xxqqzz

Was the car drunk?

If not I don’t really see the big deal here.


4 posted on 10/01/2025 7:12:40 PM PDT by DarrellZero
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To: xxqqzz

“My name is Andy....Please accept these twenty dollar bills...Er, fifty dollar bills...It’s not my car...My name is Andy...”


5 posted on 10/01/2025 7:14:48 PM PDT by Empire_of_Liberty
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To: xxqqzz

Why did the Taxi stop for them ? LOL


6 posted on 10/01/2025 7:15:11 PM PDT by butlerweave (Fateh)
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To: xxqqzz

You can’t let it get away without a ticket humans would get.

Ticket the person who bought the car. If it is a representative, so be it.

A human is ultimately responsible.


7 posted on 10/01/2025 7:15:26 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: Tom Tetroxide

Exactly.

A human authorized it for the road that day.

Hold that person responsible.


8 posted on 10/01/2025 7:16:27 PM PDT by ConservativeMind (Trump: Befuddling Democrats, Republicans, and the Media for the benefit of the US and all mankind.)
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To: xxqqzz

It was stupid to license these things for use on public roadways without having first settled the matter of who’s responsible, when it performs an illegal U-turn or when it kills a child in a school zone.


9 posted on 10/01/2025 7:18:22 PM PDT by Paal Gulli
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To: xxqqzz

Boot it. Someone will arrive to sign for the ticket issued.


10 posted on 10/01/2025 7:21:55 PM PDT by blackdog ((Z28.310) "Diggin the scene with a gangster lean" (Mayfield, Curtis) )
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To: xxqqzz

If it was important you can tow the vehicle until things get straightened out, that is how they deal with humans, take the driver and car in and sort it out later.


11 posted on 10/01/2025 7:22:30 PM PDT by ansel12 ((NATO warrior under Reagan, and RA under Nixon, bemoaning the pro-Russians from Vietnam to Ukraine.))
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To: xxqqzz
They should have towed the car to the impound lot.

Cut the battery cable to disable the vehicle.

12 posted on 10/01/2025 7:23:03 PM PDT by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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To: xxqqzz

No ticket, impound.


13 posted on 10/01/2025 7:23:38 PM PDT by Cold Heart
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To: xxqqzz

Impound the car.


14 posted on 10/01/2025 7:24:28 PM PDT by Mark (DONATE ONCE every 3 months-is that a big deal?)
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To: xxqqzz

Surely the Waymo company itself should be responsible, no?


15 posted on 10/01/2025 7:26:00 PM PDT by Beowulf9
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To: xxqqzz

high-speed police chases are about to get really weird


16 posted on 10/01/2025 7:26:29 PM PDT by butlerweave (Fateh)
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To: xxqqzz

BTW this is MSM deflection for illegal aliens with CDLs killing people.

Kind of transparent, Lame Stream Media...


17 posted on 10/01/2025 7:30:29 PM PDT by Empire_of_Liberty
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To: xxqqzz

So stupid, allow these products on the road. Part of the reason for incorporation is to defer responsibility and liability. Expecting corporations to be held responsible and liable is absurd.


18 posted on 10/01/2025 7:31:52 PM PDT by Theoria
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To: xxqqzz

So the same applies if the taxis causes and accident. Even if that results in damage to property, injury, or death. If the law does not allow penalties then why are these things even on the road.


19 posted on 10/01/2025 7:37:23 PM PDT by Revel
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To: ConservativeMind

“You can’t let it get away without a ticket humans would get.”

Why not? Are you a robotist? 🤣


20 posted on 10/01/2025 7:37:45 PM PDT by Zack Attack (✔)
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