Waymo has officially entered the “parents, do you know where your teens are?” conversation.
According to the San Mateo Police Department, two 15-year-olds were detained after Waymo reported they were drinking alcohol and shooting Orbeez-style water beads from inside one of its driverless vehicles.
Police said Waymo called officers, stopped the car, and the teens were safely removed. Officers later determined they had allegedly been shooting Orbeez from the vehicle while being chauffeured around town.
As police put it, “the Waymo might have been the smartest idea yet,” because driving impaired would have made the situation much worse.
Police Say Waymo Reported the Teens and Stopped the Car
San Mateo police said the teenagers were allegedly drinking alcohol and firing Orbeez-style water beads from inside the robotaxi. Waymo stopped the vehicle and contacted officers, who detained both teens without incident.
The department acknowledged “there was some ingenuity to this scheme,” but warned that toy guns, water guns, BB guns, and similar items can still create real danger. From a distance, or during a fast-moving situation, someone may not be able to tell whether they are looking at a toy or a real weapon.
Police also noted that shooting projectiles from a moving vehicle can cause damage or injuries. Then, of course, there was the underage drinking.
Waymo Getaway Car
The San Mateo Police Department’s Facebook post quickly drew the kind of comments you would expect from a story involving teenagers, a robotaxi, alleged underage drinking, and a toy projectile gun.
Many readers focused on the obvious joke: Waymo turned out to be a terrible choice if the plan was to misbehave quietly. Several joked that the robotaxi “snitched,” while others said the teens had at least chosen a designated driver.
Others focused on the age issue. Some questioned how two 15-year-olds were able to ride in a Waymo in the first place, while others speculated the ride may have been booked through a parent’s account or paid for with a card connected to an adult.
Smile, You’re on Camera
The comments also turned into a discussion about how Waymo works. Many people were surprised the company knew what was happening inside the vehicle. In reality, that is part of how the service is designed to operate.
Waymo’s robotaxis use interior cameras to help respond to emergencies, locate lost items, enforce in-car rules, improve the service, and promote safety and security. The company says its Support team may review recorded video after an issue is reported and, in more urgent situations, may access live video during an active trip.
The story also sparked debate about privacy. While some commenters raised concerns about an expanding surveillance state, others pointed out that dash cameras, doorbell cameras, and other connected devices already record much of everyday life.
It is also important to keep one distinction in mind: Waymo is a private, for-profit company. Like with most online services, using Waymo means agreeing to its Terms of Service and privacy policy, which explain how cameras and other sensors are used. Whether riders like being recorded or not, those terms are part of using the service.
Why Gel Blaster Pranks Can Escalate Quickly
Fortunately, this incident ended without anyone being injured. While many readers joked that the robotaxi became the world’s least effective getaway car, the situation could have taken a far more dangerous turn.
One problem with gel blasters, Orbeez-style guns, airsoft guns, BB guns, and similar toys is that the people on the receiving end rarely know what they are looking at in the moment. Someone who suddenly hears impacts on their vehicle, or sees what appears to be a gun pointed from a passing car, has only seconds to react.
They do not know whether it is a harmless prank, a BB gun, or an actual firearm.
We have seen similar incidents escalate before. In Florida, Port St. Lucie police arrested a 15-year-old after investigators said he fired an Orbeez-style gel blaster at what he believed was a friend’s vehicle while playing the viral “Senior Assassin” game.
According to the Port St. Lucie Police Department, the driver of the targeted vehicle believed he and his fiancée were being shot at and followed the teenagers while staying on the phone with 911.
Police said the driver later got out with a loaded handgun and allegedly held the teenagers at gunpoint until officers arrived. By the end of that incident, both the teenager and the armed adult were facing criminal charges.
That case illustrates why law enforcement agencies continue to warn about gel blaster pranks. The people on the receiving end do not know they are part of a joke, and a split-second misunderstanding can quickly escalate into a dangerous confrontation.
Police did not release the names or identities of the teens or their guardians, nor did they release any information about possible charges. As with all cases, everyone is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Privacy? Are you kidding? In a commercial vehicle. Let’s get real