A California judge has handed Waymo a legal setback: LA Superior Court Judge Bradley S. Phillips granted Santa Monica's motion for a preliminary injunction this week, barring Waymo from using its side-by-side charging facilities overnight in the city.
The city's public nuisance lawsuit centers on light pollution, noise, and traffic congestion generated by the constant flow of autonomous vehicles at the charging stations, affecting nearby residents and surrounding alleys.
This is a preliminary injunction, not a final ruling, meaning the lawsuit continues. The full proceeding will determine whether Waymo's urban charging infrastructure can coexist with residential neighborhoods at scale, a question every city hosting robotaxi fleets will eventually face.
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