Waymo’s Autonomous Cars Face Scrutiny Over Parking Violations

San Francisco’s Autonomous Taxis Rack Up Hundreds of Parking Violations

Alphabet’s Waymo autonomous taxis, which operate without human drivers, received 589 parking tickets in San Francisco in 2024, accumulating fines of $65,065. The violations included blocking traffic, parking in restricted areas, and failing to follow street cleaning rules. Additional infractions occurred in Los Angeles, where Waymo taxis received 75 tickets, with some fines still outstanding.

The increasing presence of driverless taxis in urban areas has sparked discussions on their impact on road safety and traffic management. While these vehicles are programmed to adhere to speed limits and traffic signals, their inability to navigate parking regulations effectively has led to concerns. City officials and transportation agencies have acknowledged that enforcing penalties on autonomous vehicles remains a developing challenge. This issue has gained attention amid Waymo's expanding autonomous taxi operations in California, where the company continues to introduce more driverless vehicles across major cities.

Parking violations serve as a key indicator of how frequently self-driving vehicles break traffic rules, as other infractions, such as failing to yield or obstructing emergency vehicles, often go unreported. California law currently prevents moving violations from being issued to autonomous vehicles, as traffic citations must be assigned to a driver. However, starting in July 2026, peace officers will be authorized to issue formal notices of noncompliance to companies operating driverless cars.

Michael Brooks, executive director of the Center for Auto Safety, noted that some parking violations pose significant risks to road users:
Brooks stated:

"Anytime a vehicle is obstructing the flow of traffic, other drivers might be forced to brake suddenly or change lanes, creating risks for drivers, pedestrians, or other road users."

Waymo, in response to concerns over its parking infractions, emphasized that its priority is ensuring safe transportation for riders and pedestrians. The company acknowledged that many citations occurred during pick-up and drop-off moments when vehicles had limited options for legal parking.

Waymo spokesperson Ethan Teicher explained:

"Our vehicles are designed to take the safest action available during the few minutes we are picking up or dropping off riders, which is when many of these parking citations occurred."

He further elaborated that Waymo taxis can detect traffic obstructions and attempt to find appropriate parking spots but may temporarily stop in commercial loading zones or other restricted areas when no safer alternatives exist.

Despite their technological advancements, self-driving vehicles have faced scrutiny for their unpredictable interactions with city infrastructure. In 2024, San Francisco transit operators reported losing over two hours of service time due to Waymo taxis blocking or colliding with public transportation vehicles. Additionally, emergency responders have encountered delays caused by autonomous taxis obstructing their routes, leading local officials to call for greater oversight from state regulators.

Public reactions to self-driving taxis have been mixed. Some residents have embraced the technology as a glimpse into the future of transportation, while others have voiced frustrations over their operational challenges. In some cases, autonomous taxis have been vandalized, a phenomenon some experts attribute to concerns over job displacement and technological disruption. Passengers, particularly women, have also reported uncomfortable interactions with pedestrians who have attempted to enter their driverless vehicles without permission.

Beyond parking infractions, Waymo taxis have also been criticized for failing to yield at crosswalks. A columnist from The Washington Post documented multiple instances in which Waymo cars did not stop for pedestrians attempting to cross the street. Such incidents highlight the ongoing difficulty of integrating artificial intelligence into complex urban environments where human behavior can be unpredictable.

Enforcement officials have maintained that driverless taxis are subject to the same parking regulations as conventional vehicles. Sterling Haywood, a parking control officer in San Francisco for 17 years, described his experience issuing a citation to a Waymo vehicle that failed to comply with street cleaning rules.

Haywood recalled:

"I gave it the same courtesy I would give if there was somebody in the car. I honked once, I honked a second time. The car didn’t move, so I placed a $96 ticket on the window."

Immediately after receiving the ticket, the Waymo vehicle departed with a passenger who had just entered.

As Waymo continues to expand, the company has acknowledged that its technology is still adapting to urban driving conditions. Its fleet, which includes over 300 vehicles operating in San Francisco, has collectively logged more than 10 million miles in the city. However, challenges such as navigating parking norms and avoiding traffic obstructions remain areas of improvement.

In January 2024, Waymo announced plans to expand its services beyond San Francisco and Los Angeles, introducing autonomous taxi operations to additional U.S. cities, including Austin. The continued rollout of driverless taxis signals a shift in urban mobility, but their integration into everyday traffic systems remains an evolving process.