Some people are still not happy about the rising number of robotaxis for various reasons. One man, however, decided to express his disapproval more physically by slashing the tires of the vehicles. Unfortunately for him, the robotaxis had several functional cameras that caught him red-handed.
San Francisco Man Slashed Waymo Tires
The Bay Area has been known to revolt against robotaxis, so someone from San Francisco slashing tires is not entirely surprising. Still, it's destruction of property and the person charged for the damages slashed the tires of 17 Waymo cars.
It's unknown whether the vandal knew or not, but driverless taxis have several cameras in various positions, which help them navigate through the roads by detecting the streets and surroundings. It's the same cameras that caught the man causing damage to the tires.
The San Francisco Police Department reviews the footage from the camera to identify the suspect, as reported by Tech Crunch. Waymo confirmed that charges have been brought against the person who "aggressively vandalized" a number of Waymo vehicles.
The company's spokesperson Katherine Barna even said that the crimes were committed while there was a rider inside the taxis. "Waymo is also taking steps to recover the damages sustained, and mitigate the potential for future events."
Despite having clear evidence, the suspect pled not guilty to the charges. He is already in police custody with no bail due to posing a "public safety risk." His trial is already set for June 12th, which is already likely not to swing his way.
The damages the vandal caused per vehicle was around $400, and for vandalizing 17 Waymo robotaxis, it will add up to a huge sum. "People who vandalize property must be held accountable for their actions," San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said.
It's Not the First Vandalism Case
This isn't even the worst case when it comes to the destruction of Waymo's property brought by everyday citizens who were against robotaxis. Also an incident in San Francisco, a crowd destroyed a Waymo car before it was set on fire.
A person reportedly jumped on the hood of the vehicle and smashed its windshield, an action which was applauded by the crowd around the vehicle. Others contributed to the vandalism by covering it in spray paint and smashing its windows.
As if that wasn't enough damage, the car was then set on fire. The fire department arrived at the scene but the car was already engulfed in flames, according to The Verge. Luckily, there was no passenger inside while the destruction was happening.
The motive is still unknown, even with the latest case. It's likely due to driverless cars taking jobs from human drivers, or it could just be because people think driverless taxis are still unsafe and may cause harm to civilians on or near streets.
Robotaxis has already been proven to be dangerous in certain situations. There have been disruptive incidents where the automated vehicles blocked traffic and worse, dragged a civilian for several feet before it stopped.
