Court Bars Waymo from Charging Robotaxis Overnight After Residents' Complaints

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Bradley S. Phillips granted the city of Santa Monica's motion for a preliminary injunction in its ongoing lawsuit against self-driving car operator Waymo. Under the court's ruling, the company is barred from using its charging lots on Broadway near the intersection with 12^th and Euclid Streets between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The city and residents contend that the continuous stream of cars at the charging stations creates light and noise pollution, and also causes congestion on the streets and in nearby alleys. One of the lots sits directly across from a private school, with residential buildings nearby.

“The Chirping of Crickets Instead of Locusts”

The complaints had been piling up for more than a year. “The constant ‘beep-beep-beep’ as the cars pull out of their spots is a nonstop source of disturbance that interferes both day and night,” wrote Christopher Potter, who lives next to the lots.

Residents noticed the change immediately. “I walked around yesterday and, my god, it's amazing,” Dylan Moore, creator of the site WaymoProblems.org, told Ars Technica. “You can hear the crickets chirping, you can hear your own thoughts; it's not a swarm of locusts covering the neighborhood, it's incredible.”

Another neighbor, who described himself as a “night owl” and asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, recalls that the busiest traffic began around two in the morning, when the bars were closing. “My windows face Broadway. The sound of the Waymos themselves plus the acceleration and braking noise that's typical of electric vehicles — it felt like they were filming ‘Tron’ right under my window. One after another!”

Santa Monica Mayor Caroline Torosis said that residents' ability to sleep peacefully in their own homes is “non-negotiable,” and that the court's ruling confirms what the neighbors had been saying for more than a year.

What Comes Next

Waymo began using these lots in January 2025. After numerous complaints and an online petition, the city demanded that nighttime operations be halted, and in November 2025 it filed a lawsuit that is still pending; the company filed a countersuit. The next hearing is set for October 2026. Waymo did not respond promptly to Ars Technica's request.

Source: Ars Technica