Waymo sues Santa Monica for trying to make it stop beeping all night
In true Silicon Valley fashion, when asked to stop being disruptive, Waymo chose litigation.
The City of Santa Monica did not suddenly decide it hates technology. It told Waymo to stop running loudly disruptive, brightly lit overnight charging operations at two Broadway locations after residents complained about noise, glare, and constant vehicle movement in the middle of the night. Waymo did not take this as a cue to adjust its operations. Rather than have their cars stop beeping while backing up, they are suing the city.
The two charging stations at the intersection of Euclid Street and Broadway have been a sore point among neighbors since the stations began operating roughly a year ago. Some residents have told The Times they’ve been unable to sleep because of the incessant beeping from Waymos maneuvering in and out of charging spots on the lot 24 hours a day.
Last month, the city ordered Waymo and the company that operates the charging stations, Voltera, to stop overnight operations at the sites, arguing that the light, noise and activity there constitute a public nuisance. Instead of complying, Waymo turned around and filed a lawsuit against the city on Dec. 17.
The city’s request was pretty benign. No charging activity between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. at sites that had effectively turned into round-the-clock automated automotive raves in residential areas. This was not a ban on autonomous vehicles. This is an attempt to let people sleep. Waymo sued to block the restriction, arguing that state rules override local authority. Santa Monica responded with its own lawsuit, seeking a court ruling that nonstop noise and light from corporate charging lots constitute a public nuisance.