by
Post Views: 7
Waymo Robotaxi Accumulated 589 Parking Fines Over the Year
- In 2024, Waymo buses were fined $65,065 for 589 parking violations in San Francisco.
- Data showed that 138 violations were related to non-compliance with street cleaning restrictions.
- The tech company’s robotaxi also received 75 fines while operating in Los Angeles last year.
The idea of robotaxis is supposed to provide us with convenient, safe, and efficient transportation, but it seems that the buses in San Francisco are developing a less desirable skill – violating parking rules. The company’s fleet of driverless cars has managed to accumulate quite a few fines.
According to data from the city’s Municipal Transportation Agency, Waymo buses received 589 parking tickets in 2024 alone, accumulating fines totaling $65,065. More than 300 Waymo buses operate in San Francisco, and as of last September, they have covered over 10 million miles on the city’s streets.
Parking Fines: A New Feature of Robotaxi
The Washington Post reports that a large portion of these violations, specifically 138, were related to non-compliance with street cleaning restrictions, while 134 were for obstructing traffic. There were also 77 tickets issued for parking in prohibited areas and 74 for double parking. And that’s not all; Waymo robotaxi also received 75 fines in Los Angeles last year. So, this problem isn’t just limited to San Francisco.
Read:
One city parking inspector, Sterling Haywood, says he issued a fine to a Waymo bus after seeing it stood for several hours in a street cleaning zone. Although this may seem like a minor issue, Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Automotive Safety, argues that if robotaxis obstruct free movement of traffic, it can increase the risk of accidents with other drivers, possibly causing them to make sudden turns or stops.
Waymo’s Argument: Safety First (Then Parking)
Waymo emphasizes that their models are equipped with systems that recognize parking spots and detect if they are obstructing traffic. However, they may stop in commercial zones for drop-offs if the only available spots are a congested artery or far from where the passenger needs to go.
According to Waymo representative Ethan Theicher, the buses are designed to perform the “safest action” during the short intervals for picking up or dropping off passengers, which is when most of these parking tickets seem to occur.
var adpushup = window.adpushup = window.adpushup || {que:[]};
adpushup.que.push(function() {
if (adpushup.config.platform !== “DESKTOP”){
adpushup.triggerAd(“bb7964e9-07de-4b06-a83e-ead35079d53c”);
} else {
adpushup.triggerAd(“9b1169d9-7a89-4971-a77f-1397f7588751”);
}
});
While the goal for robotaxi is to become safer, not everyone in San Francisco is fond of Waymo vehicles. In February last year, one of the company’s robotaxi was set on fire by vandals during the Lunar New Year celebration. Sometimes these buses can just be annoying, such as when dozens of them crowd a parking lot in the city and .
So, even though the robotaxi revolution is supposed to simplify life, it seems there are still a few obstacles to overcome before these driverless cars become truly hassle-free.
