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On the Job

Stay in your lane

Waymo robotaxi drives through felony traffic stop in Los Angeles

APB Team Published January 18, 2026 @ 12:00 pm PST

iStock.com/JasonDoiy

In many ways, emerging AI technology seems capable of matching anything a human being can do. It turns out that that includes making mistakes as well.

Videos circulating online show a handful of Los Angeles Police Department patrol officers conducting a textbook, guns-drawn felony stop in early December. The officers ordered the driver of an older white Suburban to step out of the vehicle with hands raised, directed him to the ground and then moved in to take him into custody. Any academy instructor would be proud.

The unusual twist came with the intervention of a driverless Waymo robotaxi. While some poor unsuspecting passenger sat in the back seat, the AI-powered cab drove directly toward the active felony takedown. Officers shouted commands for the vehicle to get out of the area, but instead it made a left turn, bringing it directly past the prone suspect and approaching officers.

According to NBC News, the LAPD’s Traffic Coordination Division develops protocols and policies for driverless vehicles and remains in regular contact with Waymo as the technology continues to evolve. At press time, it was unclear whether the department would be investigating the incident.

Waymo downplayed the event, noting that it lasted less than 15 seconds. “Safety is our highest priority at Waymo, both for people who choose to ride with us and with whom we share the streets,” ensured a company spokesperson. The company will, no doubt, take steps to ensure that it doesn’t happen again. This time, though, some poor passenger got “Waymo” than they bargained for when they climbed in for a ride.

Unfortunately, Waymo has also been in the news for other public safety issues. In early December, two female passengers in Los Angeles discovered a man hiding in the trunk of their Waymo. The man was detained and questioned by LAPD officers. The L.A. Times reported that the company confirmed that the man had jumped into the open trunk of the taxi in between riders. “We’re committed to keeping our riders safe and earning the trust of the communities where we operate. This experience was unacceptable, and we are actively implementing changes to address this,” Waymo said in a statement.

And more technical mishaps have occurred in San Francisco. In early December, two Waymos apparently collided, leaving a third Waymo stopped and blocking residents on a dead-end street, SFist reports. The outlet also highlighted two other tragic incidents in San Francisco, including a Waymo running over and killing a beloved bodega cat in October and a family’s dog in November.

As seen in the January 2026 issue of American Police Beat magazine.
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Editor’s Picks

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