Waymo Reports Teens for Drinking and Toy Gun Shooting

On Monday, a self-driving Waymo vehicle in San Mateo, California, reported two 15-year-old passengers to the San Mateo Police Department after discovering them drinking alcohol and shooting toy guns from the back of the vehicle. The autonomous vehicle stopped in a parking lot and awaited law enforcement's arrival.

Officers detained the teens upon arrival and determined they were using toy guns to shoot Orbeez, which are small, water-absorbing beads sold at toy stores. The San Mateo Police Department emphasized the potential dangers of toy guns, water guns, and BB guns, particularly how they can cause fear among bystanders.

A video shared on Facebook showed multiple officers and a police dog responding to the scene with weapons drawn. Waymo's vehicles are equipped with internal cameras and microphones that can be accessed in emergencies to promote safety.

The company clarified that it does not utilize facial recognition technology but may access live video during urgent situations.