Self-driving car drove kids to POLICE after they misbehaved, cops say

DAILYMAIL • 2h ago

By ANNA WRIGHT, US REPORTER 18:26 08 Jul 2026, updated 18:29 08 Jul 2026

A tattle-tale self-driving car reported two unruly teens to police after they allegedly swigged booze and drunkenly fired toy guns from the back seat.

San Mateo police detained two 15-year-olds Monday afternoon after their autonomous Waymo vehicle alerted officers about their alleged reckless behavior.

‘Around 2.10pm we got a call from a Waymo rep saying there were two people in their vehicle, and they saw them shooting out of the vehicle,’ said Jeanine Luna of the San Mateo Police Department, ABC7 reported.

The Waymo representative also described the passengers as ‘being intoxicated,’ Luna said.

Waymo directed officers to the stopped vehicle near 20th Avenue and El Camino Real in San Mateo.

They told the passengers their vehicle was having ‘car troubles’ while they waited for police assistance.

When officers arrived, they conducted what police described as a high-risk traffic stop, arriving with stun guns and a K9 unit.

Inside the vehicle, officers found a painted-over toy gun and Powerade bottles filled with Orbeez pellets.

Police said the teens had been firing the gel-based pellets from the toy gun but cooperated with the search and that no one was injured.

The county’s District Attorney’s Office is now weighing whether to charge the teens, including for underage alcohol consumption. The Daily Mail has reached out for further information.

Waymo’s autonomous vehicles are equipped with internal cameras and microphones that may be used for safety and emergencies.

The cameras help keep the vehicles clean and recover lost items, according to its support page.

The company says it does not use facial recognition or biometric technology to identify passengers.

In a statement, the San Mateo Police Department confirmed the defiant duo were seen, ‘shooting Orbeez as they sipped on afternoon libations while being chauffeured around town.’

‘While there was some ingenuity to this scheme, toy guns, water guns, and BB guns all pose real dangers, especially to an untrained eye,’ the statement read.

‘The simple handling of them can cause fear in passerby’s or to those who don’t get a good look. Shooting projectiles at speed can cause real damage.

‘And lest not forget the underage drinking. All bad ideas today for these two.

‘Well, the Waymo might have been the smartest idea yet, because driving impaired would’ve made this so much worse.’

The Daily Mail has contacted Waymo for comment.

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