Two 15-year-olds were taken into custody in Northern California after a self-driving Waymo vehicle carried them to a parking lot — guided there remotely by the company — where police were waiting, authorities announced.
San Mateo police officers intercepted the vehicle on Monday afternoon following a tip from a Waymo company representative, according to department spokesperson Jeanine Luna.
Bystander photos shared with a local television station captured the teenagers hanging out of the moving car’s windows. Investigators determined the teens had been consuming alcohol inside the vehicle and firing Orbeez — small, soft water-absorbent polymer beads — out onto the roadway.
Waymo took control of the situation by steering the car into a parking lot and notifying officers as it did so.
“The occupants were not locked in and had every ability to exit the vehicle,” Luna stated in an email to reporters.
Throughout the traffic stop, officers were able to speak directly with a Waymo company representative using the car’s built-in communication system, Luna added.
The San Mateo Police Department shared details of the incident on social media, using the post as an opportunity to caution the public about underage drinking and the hazards associated with water bead projectile toys.
The department’s post drew more than 150 comments from the public, with several people raising questions about privacy and whether it was appropriate for Waymo to redirect the vehicle and hand the teenagers over to police.
Waymo did not answer emailed questions asking how the company became aware of the teens’ behavior or whether the passengers were told the car was being pulled over.
According to information on Waymo’s website, interior cameras in its vehicles are used to check that cars are clean, help locate items left behind by riders, and assist in emergency situations. The company states that facial recognition technology is not used to identify passengers.
“Our Support team may review video under certain circumstances, including after an issue is brought to our attention,” the company’s support page reads. “Occasionally, in more urgent circumstances, Support may access live video during a trip.”
This is not the first time a Waymo vehicle has found itself connected to a law enforcement matter. Last month in San Francisco, a burglar broke into a yoga studio, made off with athletic clothing, and then fled the scene in one of the company’s autonomous vehicles.
