SF Chronicle – Two Bay Area teens up to ‘trouble’ in a Waymo nabbed by police
Editors note: the article failed to mention that Waymo is not allowed to provide access to unaccompanied minors in the first place. Based on this article, a reason for this law is rather obvious. But it appears that Waymo isn’t even trying to follow the rules.
See original story by David DeBolt at SF Chronicle
Waymo called the cops Monday on two 15-year-olds police later described as up to “trouble.”
The teens had been drinking alcohol inside the driverless car and cruising around firing gel-based pellets, known as Orbeez.
The San Mateo Police Department said they were able to stop the car and detain both teens after Waymo notified them of the situation.
“After calling us and stopping the car, we were able to safely remove both subjects and determined they were shooting Orbeez from the car as they sipped on afternoon libations while being chauffeured around town in the driverless vehicle,” the police department said on social media.
Images and video released by SMPD show several officers — some carrying stun guns with a police dog in tow — respond to the scene.
“While there was some ingenuity to this scheme, toy guns, water guns and BB guns all pose real dangers, especially to an untrained eye,” police wrote. “The simple handling of them can cause fear in (passersby) or those who don’t get a good look. Shooting projectiles at speed can cause real damage.”
In their post, police also stopped short of endorsing underage drinking, calling the actions “bad ideas today for these two” but said “the Waymo might have been the smartest idea yet.”
“Because driving impaired would’ve made this so much worse,” the SMPD social media post says.
Police said the teens were detained but did not indicate what charges they could face.
See original story by David DeBolt at SF Chronicle
