Waymo Stops Robotaxi After Detecting Minors With Ghost Gun

POLICY WIRE — San Francisco, United States — A Waymo autonomous vehicle was pulled over in San Francisco after the company detected a weapon inside, leading to the arrest of two minors.

The incident occurred on September 3 in the Outer Richmond neighborhood when a Waymo employee identified a firearm in one of its self-driving cars. The vehicle was stopped and police were notified, according to reports from SFGATE.

SFPD officers conducted a high-risk stop at 40th Avenue just before 4 a.m. and found an AR-style assault rifle, referred to as a ghost gun, along with suspected marijuana and mace spray on the two suspects. Both individuals, a male and a female, were taken into custody and charged with illegal firearm possession, though their identities have not been disclosed due to their ages.

Waymo’s policies strictly prohibit carrying weapons in its vehicles. However, the method used to detect the gun, particularly a ghost gun without a serial number, remains unclear. These homemade firearms are often assembled using 3D-printed parts and are difficult for law enforcement to trace.

This is not the first time Waymo has reported customers to authorities. In July, employees alerted San Mateo police about two 15-year-old boys allegedly drinking alcohol and firing water beads in a vehicle. At that time, the company reportedly did not inform the riders of the police involvement and provided a false explanation for the car stopping.

The Independent has sought a response from Waymo, which has operated since 2009 and became an independent entity in 2016. The company recently expanded its services to San Diego, Denver, and Tampa.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)