Fight between Waymo and Santa Monica goes to court

"Waymo is taking the city of Santa Monica to court after the city ordered the company to cease charging its autonomous vehicles at two facilities overnight, claiming the lights and beeping at the lots were a nuisance to residents. The two charging stations at the intersection of Euclid Street and Broadway have been a sour point for neighbors since they began operating roughly a year ago."

"Some residents have told The Times they've been unable to sleep because of the incessant beeping from Waymos maneuvering in and out of charging spots on the lot 24 hours a day. Last month, the city ordered Waymo and the company that operates the charging stations, Voltera, to stop overnight operations at the sites, arguing that the light, noise and activity there constitute a public nuisance. Instead of complying, Waymo has turned around and filed a suit against the city, asking the court to intervene."

""Waymo's activities at the Broadway Facilities do not constitute a public nuisance," the company argued in its complaint, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court. "Waymo faces imminent and irreparable harm to its operations, employees, and customers." A spokesperson for the city did not immediately respond to a request for comment. According to the suit, the city was aware that the Voltera charging facilities were to operate and maintain a commercial electric vehicle fleet 24 hours a day."

Waymo operates two Voltera charging stations at Euclid Street and Broadway in Santa Monica that run 24 hours a day with overnight staffing, lights and beeping as vehicles reverse. Neighbors reported sleep disruption from incessant beeping and blocked vehicle paths and driveways, placing cones and obstructing driverless cars. Last month, the city ordered Waymo and Voltera to cease overnight operations, citing light, noise and activity as a public nuisance. Waymo filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court, asserting its activities do not constitute a public nuisance and claiming imminent, irreparable harm to operations, employees and customers. The city approved permits allowing 24-hour commercial electric vehicle fleet operation, according to the suit.

Read at Los Angeles Times