California police officers found themselves in an unusual spot last week when they tried to pull over a car for a traffic violation
A Waymo vehicle drives past a No U-Turn sign in San Bruno, California, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
California police officers faced an unusual situation last week when they tried to stop a car for a traffic violation—only to discover there was no driver inside.
During a DUI enforcement operation in San Bruno, officers pulled over a Waymo self-driving vehicle after it made an illegal U-turn at a traffic light, according to The Guardian. With no human behind the wheel, officers were left unsure how to proceed, since their citation books had no option for “robot.” In a Facebook post, the department joked: “That’s right… no driver, no hands, no clue.”
Police notified Waymo of the incident, expressing hope that the company would adjust its software to prevent similar violations. Waymo responded that its vehicles are programmed to follow traffic laws and said it would review the case as part of its safety protocols.
The situation sparked debate online, with many commenters frustrated that no citation was issued. San Bruno Sgt. Scott Smithmatungol explained that while tickets can be given to parked cars, moving violations can only be applied to human drivers.
California lawmakers are preparing to address this gap. Starting in July 2026, new rules will allow police to issue a “notice of noncompliance” when a driverless vehicle breaks the law, instead of a standard ticket. Companies will also be required to maintain an emergency hotline for first responders, and they’ll need to remotely move vehicles out of restricted areas within two minutes when ordered by authorities.
The legislation follows a string of incidents in San Francisco involving autonomous cars—ranging from blocking intersections to interfering with emergency crews.
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