Santa Monica just pulled the plug on Waymo’s overnight operations.
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge has ordered the self-driving car company to stop running its Broadway charging lots late at night, after neighbors complained the nonstop noise and lights were turning their homes into sleepless zones.
The ruling, issued July 27, blocks Waymo from operating at 1222 and 1310 Broadway between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. while the city’s public nuisance case heads toward trial.
“Our residents’ ability to sleep peacefully in their own homes is not negotiable,” Mayor Caroline Torosis said, calling the ruling long-awaited relief.
The court said Santa Monica is likely to win, finding that the steady stream of cars, noise, and bright lighting disrupts residents’ ability to enjoy their homes.
The judge also made clear the balance tips toward residents — not the Google-owned robot taxi service — noting the company can still run overnight rides using vehicles charged during the day.
“This outcome reflects what we’ve said from the beginning: new technologies thrive in Santa Monica when they’re designed to operate compatibly with the neighborhoods around them,” Torosis said.
“We remain ready to work with Waymo on solutions that let their operations and our residents’ quality of life coexist.”
Residents near the sites have complained for more than a year about sleepless nights tied to vehicle activity and glaring lights. The city says it tried to resolve the issue through meetings and mediation before heading to court.
City attorneys, led by Chief Deputy Romy Ganschow, ultimately secured the injunction. Waymo continues to operate widely across Santa Monica, logging tens of thousands of rides each month.
A follow-up hearing is set for Oct. 23 to review potential fixes. The overnight shutdown remains in place until trial.
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