Waymo and Teamsters Challenge California Autonomous Vehicle Rules

Waymo LLC filed a petition in Santa Monica Superior Court asking Judge Bradley S. Phillips to stay a preliminary injunction that bars the company from operating its Broadway charging stations overnight. Waymo argues the ban harms thousands of riders, stating, “The loss of the right to operate overnight at the Broadway lots, a vital charging hub in Waymo’s transportation network, has already caused sweeping, irrevocable harm and will continue to do so.” The city of Santa Monica maintains the nighttime activity creates a public nuisance.

Separately, Teamsters California sued the California Department of Motor Vehicles, contending the agency sidestepped statutory requirements to study and disclose the economic and safety impacts of permitting fully autonomous heavy‑duty trucks on state roads. The lawsuit cites safety concerns about Waymo robotaxis, quoting co‑chair Peter Finn: “Every day brings new evidence that Waymo robotaxis are putting public safety at risk, and those dangers scale up exponentially with trucks that are up to 16 times heavier and moving at highway speeds.” The suit seeks to halt the DMV’s regulations until a proper review is completed.