Waymo robotaxi alerts police to armed juveniles in San Francisco

An autonomous Waymo robotaxi in San Francisco alerted authorities after detecting a violation of its terms of service involving a firearm. The incident occurred in the Outer Richmond neighborhood around 4 a.m. on September 3.

Following the alert, the vehicle pulled over to a safe location to facilitate a high-risk stop by the San Francisco Police Department. Officers detained two juvenile passengers—a boy and a girl—and discovered a loaded, AR-style assault rifle, identified as a ‘ghost gun’ with no traceable serial number. Police also seized suspected marijuana and mace spray during the search.

Waymo confirmed the incident, noting that its vehicles are equipped with interior cameras used to monitor compliance with safety rules and respond to emergencies. The company stated that support teams may review recordings or access live video in urgent circumstances. The two minors were taken into custody and transported to a juvenile detention center.