In a quirky twist on traffic enforcement, San Bruno police chase a Waymo autonomous vehicle after it pulls an illegal U-turn during a DUI patrol. Yet, with no human at the wheel, they hit a legal snag. This incident spotlights the rush to update rules for self-driving tech, promising smoother roads ahead.
Imagine cruising through San Bruno on a Friday night. Suddenly, lights flash. You pull over. But wait—no hands grip the wheel. This scene unfolded recently when California police targeted a driverless car for an illegal U-turn. The twist? Officers could not slap a ticket on it. As autonomous vehicles proliferate on roads, such moments prompt us to reassess the fundamentals of enforcement. And yes, this driverless car saga hints at bigger shifts in travel and policy.
Also Read: Waymo Secures First NYC Permit for Autonomous Vehicle Testing
The Moment That Left Officers Scratching Heads
San Bruno police ran a DUI checkpoint last week. Cars queued up under the night sky. Then, one vehicle swerved. A sleek Jaguar I-Pace, operated by Waymo, executed an illegal U-turn right before the lights. It seemed to dodge the patrol on purpose. Officers hit their sirens. The driverless car halted smoothly. They approached, expecting a chatty motorist. Instead, an empty seat greeted them.
No human meant no citation. “Our books lack a spot for ‘robot’,” the department joked on Facebook. They pinged Waymo’s team instead. The company called it a “glitch” and pledged fixes. Waymo’s system aims to obey rules, after all. But this driverless car blunder shows tech’s growing pains. Police noted it as a first. Moreover, it echoes past hiccups, like vehicles blocking fire trucks or dragging pedestrians in San Francisco.
Background matters here. Waymo, backed by Alphabet, runs robotaxis in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. These driverless cars log millions of miles yearly. Yet, current California law ties tickets to drivers. No wheel-turner? No fine. This gap frustrates first responders. For instance, last year saw bills pushed to close it. Governor Gavin Newsom signed one, allowing “notices of noncompliance” for hazards. Still, moving violations like U-turns slip through.
Paving the Way for Smarter Roads and Policies
What happens next? Change rolls in fast. From July 2026, police gain power to ticket companies directly for driverless car infractions. Officers can issue warnings or fines to operators. This targets glitches head-on. Waymo welcomes the scrutiny, vowing better safety via data. Meanwhile, federal probes ramp up on traffic breaches.
The implications thrill. Safer streets top the list. Driverless cars eliminate human errors, which account for 94% of crashes. They promise fewer DUIs too—no boozy pilots. Travel eases for all. Think accessible rides for the elderly or disabled. Policy-wise, it sparks debates. Who codes ethics in code? Fines might push firms to refine AI quickly. Thus, urban jams could shrink. Jobs shift, sure—taxi drivers adapt. But overall, benefits outweigh bumps.
This driverless car episode underscores urgency. California leads autonomous tech. Yet, rules lag wheels. As more hit highways, expect tweaks. Police stay vigilant, humans or not. For now, San Bruno’s tale amuses.
