In a world where self-driving cars are becoming increasingly common, a recent traffic stop in San Bruno, California, highlighted the challenges law enforcement faces with autonomous vehicles. Imagine pulling over a car for an illegal U-turn only to find it devoid of any human presence.
During a DUI operation on a Saturday, San Bruno police officers stopped a vehicle that made an illegal U-turn. To their surprise, the car was a driverless Waymo, completely empty of passengers or a driver. The incident occurred on San Mateo Avenue, right in front of the 360 Tints & Body auto shop.
The San Bruno Police Department shared the unusual encounter on their Facebook page, stating, “That’s right… no driver, no hands, no clue. 🤖➡️⛔️.” Since the vehicle had no human driver, issuing a ticket was impossible. “Our citation books don’t have a box for ‘robot,'” the officers humorously noted, adding that they informed Waymo about the “glitch” to prevent future illegal maneuvers.
The location that confused the Waymo was a busy crosswalk near the San Bruno Caltrain station, an area marked by signs prohibiting U-turns in both directions. Waymo’s technology is designed to handle interactions with emergency vehicles, as explained in a Waymo blog post. Their vehicles are programmed to comply with traffic signals and respond to emergency lights.
A representative from Waymo told Business Insider that their Driver system aims to “respect the rules of the road,” and the company is investigating the incident. This isn’t the first time Waymo vehicles have encountered issues. In June 2024, another Waymo was pulled over in Phoenix for driving into oncoming traffic, and in January, a malfunctioning Waymo trapped a passenger inside while it circled a parking lot in Los Angeles.
Recently, Waymo expanded its services to the San Francisco International Airport, after obtaining the necessary permits. The company, owned by Alphabet, has also partnered with various ride-hailing apps to broaden its reach.
California has passed legislation to regulate autonomous vehicles more effectively. By July 2026, officers will have the authority to issue notices to manufacturers for noncompliance by driverless cars. Until then, these vehicles remain ticket-free.
