What happened in Hollywood
A driverless Waymo taxi apparently took a wrong turn on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood and entered an area blocked off by the Los Angeles Fire Department. Witnesses told KABC the vehicle went past emergency flares, stayed inside the restricted scene for about 10 minutes, then made a U turn and drove away. There was at least one passenger in the back seat. If true, that is a frightening mix of automation and real danger right where firefighters were working.
Why this is dangerous for passengers and first responders
Emergency scenes are chaotic and change by the minute. Firefighters put up flares and block roads to keep people safe. A vehicle that ignores those cues could get in the way of trucks, crews, or hose lines. A passenger inside a vehicle that ignores commands or signs has no quick way to take control. Human drivers can be yelled at or pulled out of the car if needed. Robot taxis do not offer that same immediate option when things go wrong.
Waymo and other robotaxi oddities are piling up
This is not the first time Waymo vehicles have acted strangely in public. Reports have included robotaxis making illegal U turns, running stops at DUI checkpoints, and even causing a widely publicized incident where a San Francisco cat was struck and killed. There have been other unusual events like births in back seats and vehicles zooming past stopped school buses. These are not one off glitches. They show there are real world limits to current autonomous systems.
The legal gap in holding companies accountable
California law until recently only allowed officers to cite human drivers for moving violations. That left enforcement stuck in limbo when a robotaxi makes an illegal move. Lawmakers tried to address this, but the fix was watered down so police can only file notices of noncompliance to the DMV. That does not feel like a strong deterrent when a malfunctioning vehicle can create immediate public danger. Someone should be accountable on the spot.
What needs to change right now
We need three things. First, stricter rules so companies operating autonomous fleets must stop vehicles remotely and remove them from service immediately when they enter restricted zones. Second, clearer enforcement so local police can issue meaningful penalties. Third, better transparency so firms release incident data and corrective steps. Technology moves fast, but public safety should move ahead of convenience, not behind it.
A driverless Waymo robotaxi making an illegal U-turn in San Bruno has highlighted a major gap in traffic law enforcement. Police on DUI patrol witnessed the Jaguar I-Pace maneuver, but under current California law, moving violations can only be issued to human drivers. With no… pic.twitter.com/CaCwn0gx8v
— NextMetropolis (@NextMetropolis) October 3, 2025
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