On September 3, a Waymo driverless car in San Francisco’s Outer Richmond neighborhood was pulled over after an employee reported a gun inside the vehicle. The company’s system triggered a stop and notified police. The incident involved two minors who were later arrested.
Police arrived just before 4 a.m. at 40th Avenue and conducted a high‑risk vehicle stop, according to SFPD spokesperson Allison Maxie. A search of the car uncovered an AR‑styled assault rifle, described by officers as a ghost gun, as well as suspected marijuana and mace spray. Both a male and a female suspect were taken to the Juvenile Justice Center and booked on charges of illegal firearm possession.
Waymo’s Rider Rules prohibit carrying any weapon in its vehicles, but the company has not explained how the system detected the ghost gun. Ghost guns are typically homemade, lack serial numbers, and are harder for law enforcement to track. The minors’ identities will remain confidential because they are under 18.
This is not the first time Waymo has called police on passengers. In July, employees reported that two 15‑year‑old boys were drinking alcohol and shooting water beads while in a car, and the police were called without informing the teens that law enforcement had been summoned. The Independent has asked Waymo for comment. The company, which began operating in 2009 under Google and became independent in 2016, started service in San Diego, Denver, and Tampa earlier this month.
