Santa Monica and Waymo Head to Court
The City of Santa Monica is heading to court against Waymo, a self-driving car company, on the basis that Waymo’s cars are a nuisance to neighbors and people living near charging stations. The City is ordering Waymo to cease overnight charging (11 p.m.-6 a.m.) at two charging stations located on 1222 Broadway and 1310 Broadway, which have led to complaints from many neighbors since Waymo first moved there in November 2024.
In 2023, Waymo officially launched in Santa Monica, following months of testing the cars. The company has exploded onto the scene all over Los Angeles and more specifically in Santa Monica, with cars being seen daily on the streets. According to the L.A. Times, in Santa Monica alone in December, 50,000 people rode Waymo vehicles throughout the city.
Residents who live adjacent to Waymo charging stations, operated by Voltera, have issued many complaints about the level of noise, lights and beeping. One aspect that makes Waymos especially disruptive is the noises that the cars emit. The beeps, clicks and hums are unique to these cars and residents have reported a negative effect on their sleep cycle.
Nancy Taylor lives in an apartment complex adjacent to the charging station on Broadway and Euclid St., and has lived in the same apartment for 42 years. Taylor is an advocate for change regarding this issue, and has been interviewed by multiple high-profile media outlets including CNN, London Times, KTLA and NBC affiliates.
Taylor described the disturbances caused by this charging station.
“It’s been a number of things, but primarily noise and lights. I’ve heard a lot. I refer to the light situation as a mini Las Vegas out there, the cars make beeping noises in the lot when they back up. It has gotten a bit better. But if the car gets stuck and a person has to override the car and get in, then all bets are off and it will beep again,” Taylor said.
This issue started over a year ago in Nov. 2024, when Waymos moved into the lot previously owned by Ford. Since then, multiple tenants in Taylor’s apartment building have moved out due to issues with the noise and disruption the station has caused.
Taylor has found a way to deal with all of these problems.
“I have a two-bedroom apartment, and I sleep in the bedroom furthest away. I sleep with an air filter, fan and eye mask to block out the noises. But even sometimes I can hear the noises over all of those things,” Taylor said.
However, Taylor stressed that she wasn’t planning on leaving and is trying to find solutions to these problems. She helped create a petition that got over 500 signatures and eventually brought the issue up with the city.
“What we want is for them [Waymo] to shut down charging during sleeping hours between 11 to 6. Basically, we’re asking them to protect our sleep,” Taylor said.
In November 2025, in large part due to Taylor’s petition, the City contacted Waymo, ordering them to stop overnight charging at that specific location. Waymo responded by filing a lawsuit against the city on Dec. 17 on the grounds that the activities at the Broadway location did not constitute a public nuisance, leading the City to file a lawsuit two days later. Additionally Waymo issued a statement from the company’s spokesperson in a statement to KABC.
“Waymo has demonstrated a consistent commitment to being a good neighbor, including by consulting with regulators to mitigate noise concerns,” the spokesperson said. “The [charging] site has enabled Waymo to provide a safe, sustainable and accessible transportation option to city residents.”
Waymo provides a safe alternative to car services like Uber, or Taxis. Data provided by the company showed that their vehicles were 35 percent safer than alternative means of transport.
Andrea Goldberg (‘28), enjoys going out with her friends and uses Waymos as a means of safe transportation.
“I use Waymos around one to two times a week. I really love them because they are a great way to get around the city, and they are a lot safer than other forms of transportation,” Goldberg said.
The rift between Waymo and the City of Santa Monica is at a standstill, with the court battle ongoing. This court hearing will be held in Santa Monica on March 20. The court is filing for a preliminary injunction to compel Waymo to stop charging between the hours of 11-6. Additionally, Waymo will present its evidence as to why the company should not have to shut down these charging stations. As this case continues, the court ruling could redefine how cities in California regulate autonomous vehicles throughout the state.
