Waymo sued by Santa Monica over overnight charging station noise and lights
Waymo sued the City of Santa Monica in December 2025 after officials ordered it to cease overnight charging operations at two facilities, citing beeping and flashing lights from the charging stations as a public nuisance that disrupted residents' sleep. Community frustration led residents to block autonomous vehicles from accessing the charging stations before the city and Waymo reached an impasse in negotiations.
What happened
Waymo operated two 24-hour charging stations for its autonomous vehicles at Euclid Street and Broadway in Santa Monica since around a year ago. Residents reported being unable to sleep due to beeping noises and flashing lights from the charging ports continuing through the night.
Frustrated residents responded by blocking the paths of autonomous vehicles arriving to charge and placing cones and obstructions around the charging stations, a practice called 'stacking the Waymos.' Charging station employees called police several times, though no arrests were made.
In November 2025, Santa Monica officials ordered Waymo and Voltera to stop overnight operations, claiming the lights and noise constituted a public nuisance. After a December 15 meeting between Waymo, Voltera, and the city yielded no agreement on mitigations, Waymo filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Reported impact
Residents reported being kept awake by beeping and flashing lights from the charging stations operating 24 hours a day. The city acknowledged in a September 9, 2025 communication that 'complaints from residents regarding noise have subsided,' though complaints continued.
Waymo said it faces 'imminent and irreparable harm to its operations, employees, and customers' from the city's order to cease overnight charging operations.
Index analysis
The beeping and flashing lights from the charging equipment at two locations disrupted residents' sleep and triggered community resistance including blocking vehicle access. Waymo claimed it had consulted with regulators and worked to reduce noise when complaints began, including proposing a software update to change vehicle paths to the charging stations.
Governance controls
Santa Monica issued an order in November 2025 to cease overnight operations at the charging facilities. Waymo representatives attempted compromise in late November, proposing noise and light reduction measures, but no agreement was reached after a December 15 meeting with the city.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.