Santa Monica Residents Complain About Waymo Charging Lot Noise

Noise Complaints Near Waymo Charging Lot

• 💡 Waymo driverless taxis operating at a charging station in Santa Monica are causing significant noise disturbances for nearby residents.
• 🔊 Residents describe the backup noise and reversing sounds as an annoying and incessant nuisance that disrupts their daily lives.

Impact on Local Community

• 🏘️ A change.org petition highlights that the new Waymo station has transformed a peaceful neighborhood into a hub of noise pollution.
• 😴 Many residents report being kept up at night and woken up by the constant sounds from the charging lot.
• 💻 The noise is a consistent problem for those working from home, interfering with calls and concentration.

Legal and City Responses

• ⚖️ One neighbor's lawyer stated that their client's justifiable protest led Waymo to attempt to obtain a restraining order, which was denied.
• 🗣️ Waymo claims to strive to be good neighbors and is committed to being a positive presence, engaging in conversations with the city to explore mitigation strategies.
• 🏢 The City of Santa Monica acknowledges working with Waymo to resolve issues and has sent code enforcement, but states they lack jurisdiction to regulate Waymo, as this is handled at the state level.