Home / Business and Economy / City Wins Injunction Against Waymo Overnight Operations
City Wins Injunction Against Waymo Overnight Operations
29 Jul
Summary
- Waymo's overnight services in Santa Monica are temporarily halted.
- Residents complained about noise, glare, and backup beeps from lots.
- The court ruled harm to residents outweighs harm to Waymo.
Overnight services at two Santa Monica Waymo charging lots are temporarily suspended following a city-filed public nuisance lawsuit. A judge has granted the City of Santa Monica's request for a preliminary injunction, halting operations between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. at the Broadway locations while the case moves toward trial.
For over a year, residents living near the affected lots have lodged complaints about continuous noise disturbances, including a droning hum, bright glare, and frequent backup beeping alerts from the autonomous vehicles. In response to these concerns, Waymo had previously implemented measures such as limiting work hours, acquiring quieter equipment, and planting trees to mitigate sound and light.
The city emphasized that the legal action is not about the presence of autonomous vehicles in Santa Monica but aims to balance Waymo's operations with residents' quality of life. The court determined that the harm experienced by residents outweighs any potential harm to Waymo during the injunction period. A status conference is scheduled for October 23 to review remediation efforts.
