A brazen attempt to hijack a self-driving car in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles ended in an arrest. Vincent Maurice Jones, 33, was busted after trying to take control of a Waymo Jaguar sedan that had just completed a passenger drop-off on Main Street, north of 1st Street.
According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the incident went down around 10:30 p.m. last Saturday. Trying to put the vehicle in "Drive," Jones found himself bamboozled by the advanced tech of the autonomous vehicle, which wasn't having any of it. Trying unsuccessfully to manipulate the controls, he was remotely confronted by a Waymo employee via the car's communications system and firmly instructed to exit the vehicle.
Refusing to comply with the Waymo representative's demands, the LAPD was alerted and swiftly arrived at the scene. "Jones did not follow the instructions, and the representative contacted the LAPD," the police reported. Officers took Jones into custody on charges of attempted grand theft auto, as per a statement obtained by KTLA.
Waymo, spun off from Google in 2016, recently received a nod from the California Public Utilities Commission to let self-driving taxis loose on Los Angeles County streets, igniting a mix of excitement and concern among the public. L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn was among the critics, posting her disapproval on X, formerly known as Twitter: "These robotaxis are far too untested and Angelenos shouldn’t be Big Tech’s guinea pigs," she disparaged the move.
This is a dangerous decision. These robotaxis are far too untested and Angelenos shouldn’t be Big Tech’s guinea pigs. Decisions like this one should be informed by cities, not made over city objections. https://t.co/A3lRxTDdKX
— Janice Hahn (@SupJaniceHahn) March 2, 2024
In a city where drivers are acquainting themselves with the future one robotaxi at a time, sentiment around self-driving cars remains a complex mix of intrigue and skepticism. As reported by NBC News, critics point to incidents where these vehicles have caused disruptions, like running red lights or even obstructing emergency vehicles. Yet, with around 50,000 locals on the waiting list for a free Waymo ride, the allure of automated transport continues to entice. Jones's misadventures exemplify the challenges and curiosities of a society inching towards automated mobility.
