Waymo Autonomous Taxi Reports Teenagers Drinking and Shooting Toy Bullets in California

Two 15-year-old boys from San Mateo, California, were arrested after riding in a Waymo autonomous taxi, consuming alcohol illegally, and firing Orbeez toy bullets out of the vehicle. The incident occurred in the afternoon, during which the teens used a black-colored Orbeez gun that resembled a real firearm, prompting police concern. San Mateo police responded after Waymo reported the behavior and safely directed the vehicle to a designated stop that did not obstruct traffic. Armed officers arrived, confirmed the teens were not carrying real weapons, and detained them for questioning. The boys were released after spending a night in custody. Following the event, police noted that Waymo had detected the incident through its monitoring systems and promptly alerted authorities. Waymo’s support pages indicate the company may review video footage from its vehicles and, in exceptional cases, access live video feeds to ensure safety and compliance.