San Diego City Council Demands Control Over Waymo Robotaxis After Blocking Emergency Vehicles
San Diego's City Council voted unanimously on September 8, 2026, to pass a resolution demanding local control over Waymo's robotaxi operations after the company launched its driverless fleet in the city on September 1 without local input. Council members expressed concerns that the autonomous vehicles were blocking emergency services, and called on the California legislature to grant cities authority over autonomous vehicle deployment.
What happened
Waymo launched its driverless ride-hailing service in San Diego on September 1, 2026, after receiving approval from the California Public Utilities Commission without local city authority input.
On September 8, 2026, the San Diego City Council voted 8-0 to pass a resolution calling for local control over Waymo's operations. During the meeting, residents and council members presented video clips showing driverless cars blocking first responders and stopped in the middle of traffic.
Reported impact
Council members expressed concern that autonomous vehicles were obstructing firefighters, police officers, ambulance drivers, and EMTs responding to emergencies, stating that 'every second counts' during life-or-death situations. Councilmember Marni von Wilpert said 'Nothing should be in their way. Not a company, not an algorithm, not an autonomous driverless vehicle.'
The resolution also raised concerns about the impact on taxi drivers, particularly those working at San Diego International Airport, where council members called for a prohibition on autonomous vehicle operations.
Index analysis
The incident reflects a governance gap where the California Public Utilities Commission approved Waymo's expansion into San Diego without requiring local municipal authority input or approval, creating tension between state-level regulatory decisions and local public safety concerns.
Governance controls
The San Diego City Council voted to approve a resolution calling on the California Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom to grant cities local control over autonomous vehicle deployment in their jurisdictions and to empower fire departments and police with authority to 'track, stop, or move empty vehicles during emergencies.' The resolution also urged the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority to prohibit autonomous vehicles from operating at the airport.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.