Waymo Robotaxi Stops, Police Arrest Two Juveniles Carrying Ghost Gun in San Francisco

Waymo’s driverless taxi service was forced to intervene on a San Francisco street when the autonomous vehicle halted its passengers and summoned law enforcement. Police arrived to find two juveniles in the back seat holding a loaded, AR‑style ghost gun, a firearm assembled without a serial number that can evade typical background checks.

According to the police report, officers detained the teens and transported them to a local juvenile detention facility. The report did not disclose further details about the investigation, but confirmed that the weapon was functional and that no shots were fired during the encounter.

The incident marks a rare instance of a self‑driving car directly involving law enforcement. Waymo, which has been operating robotaxis in several U.S. cities under a safety‑first framework, said the vehicle’s safety system detected the weapon and followed its protocol to pull over and alert authorities.

Ghost guns have become a growing concern for law‑enforcement agencies nationwide because they skirt traditional tracing mechanisms. The presence of such a weapon in a public ride‑share vehicle underscores the challenges cities face in balancing emerging mobility technologies with public safety.

San Francisco officials have not indicated whether the incident will prompt a review of autonomous‑vehicle policies or lead to new regulations regarding passenger screening. However, city leaders have previously emphasized the importance of integrating autonomous technology with existing safety standards.

Waymo reiterated its commitment to passenger safety, noting that the vehicle’s sensors and AI detected the anomaly and acted in accordance with its emergency procedures. The company said it will cooperate fully with investigators while continuing to refine its detection capabilities to prevent similar situations in the future.