Waymo’s Overnight Charging Halted After Noise Complaints in Santa Monica
Waymo can no longer charge its autonomous vehicles overnight in Santa Monica. A judge ordered the company to stop using its side-by-side charging lots between 11 pm and 6 am.
The ruling came after residents complained about constant noise. Christopher Potter described the “beep beep beep” sounds as an “incessant disturbance” that wrecks their peace day and night. Others likened the charging lots to a noisy Las Vegas Strip.
Santa Monica’s mayor, Caroline Torosis, made one thing clear: “Our residents’ ability to sleep peacefully in their own homes is not negotiable.” The city sued Waymo, seeking relief from the public nuisance caused by the overnight operations.
Judge Bradley S. Phillips granted a preliminary injunction after weighing the evidence. He acknowledged Waymo’s efforts to reduce noise by limiting hours, buying quieter equipment, installing barriers, and updating software. Still, he ruled those measures haven’t stopped the nuisance.
“While the evidence shows that the parties have attempted to mitigate the noise, lights and traffic,” Phillips said, “it does not show those efforts have been sufficiently successful to eliminate the public nuisance.”
Waymo started using the Broadway charging facilities at 12th and Euclid Streets in January 2025. The company promptly appealed the ruling. The next hearing is set for October 13 to 15, 2026.
The shutdown affects nearly two charging stations in Santa Monica. The injunction bars their use overnight but doesn’t ban daytime operations.
Waymo faces more than noise complaints. The company recalled nearly 4,000 robotaxis after at least 13 incidents of vehicles driving into highway sections closed for construction. These errors prompted software updates focused on scene recognition and routing.
Following the updates, Waymo resumed freeway operations in Phoenix, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Miami. It plans to gradually reintroduce freeway routes starting with Phoenix.
Mayor Torosis praised the court’s decision, calling it a relief for neighbors after more than a year of disturbances. The city of Santa Monica and advocacy group Santa Monica for Renters Rights backed the lawsuit, pushing for a quieter community.
Waymo’s technology may be cutting-edge, but its charging noise apparently isn’t. For now, residents get their nights back.
Based on
- After noise complaints, judge orders Waymo to stop overnight charging in Santa Monica — arstechnica.com
- Judge forces Waymo to stop overnight operations in California beach city after residents complain | The Independent — independent.co.uk
- Court halts overnight Waymo charging at Santa Monica Broadway lots – CBS Los Angeles — cbsnews.com
- Waymo robotaxis are starting to return to freeways | TechCrunch — techcrunch.com
