A union representing California ride-hail drivers has filed a formal complaint with state regulators alleging that Waymo violated the terms of its operating permit by transporting unaccompanied minors in its autonomous vehicles.
The complaint, submitted Tuesday to the California Public Utilities Commission, argues that Waymo’s robotaxi service allowed riders under 18 to travel alone in cities including San Francisco and Los Angeles — something explicitly prohibited under current California rules for commercial ride services.
Waymo, which is owned by Alphabet Inc., operates driverless ride-hailing vehicles across multiple California markets, including the Bay Area, Los Angeles and Sacramento. Company spokespeople were not immediately available to comment.
What the complaint against Waymo alleges
The filing was submitted by the California Gig Workers Union, which represents drivers working for companies such as Uber and Lyft. It claims Waymo knowingly failed to prevent minors from riding alone in its autonomous vehicles, in violation of the CPUC’s conditions for commercial autonomous passenger services.
Under a 2020 CPUC decision governing autonomous ride-hailing, passengers under 18 are not allowed to travel unaccompanied, regardless of who books the ride. The union argues that evidence from recent media reporting shows Waymo vehicles have picked up and dropped off minors without an adult present.
“This isn’t about opposing new technology,” the complaint states. “It’s about applying the same safety standards and accountability across the transportation industry.”
Union members say human drivers can face suspension or permanent deactivation for transporting unaccompanied minors — a standard they argue should also apply to autonomous vehicle operators.
What the union wants the CPUC to do
The complaint asks state regulators to open a formal investigation into Waymo’s practices and determine whether the company failed to implement reasonable safeguards, such as age verification or account-level restrictions.
Specifically, the union is requesting that the CPUC:
The filing also asks regulators to require regular compliance reports detailing how Waymo prevents minors from accessing its service without adult supervision.
Is it legal for a minor to take a taxi, Uber, Lyft — or a robotaxi — in California?
Under current California rules, the answer depends on the type of ride — and whether an adult is present.
For autonomous ride-hailing services like Waymo, CPUC regulations explicitly prohibit transporting unaccompanied minors. The rule applies regardless of who books the ride or whether a parent gives permission.
For Uber and Lyft, company policies generally prohibit unaccompanied minors as well, unless the ride is booked through a designated teen program that includes parental consent and account linking. Even then, those programs are not available across California.
Traditional taxis operate under different local and municipal rules, but many drivers and companies still require minors to be accompanied by an adult, particularly for liability and safety reasons.
State regulators have emphasized that, for now, autonomous vehicles are “explicitly disallowed” from carrying children without an adult chaperone — a restriction that remains in effect while broader rulemaking continues.
Why this issue is coming up now
The complaint lands as the CPUC is already in the middle of reviewing whether California should allow autonomous vehicles to transport unaccompanied minors in the future — and under what conditions.
During a January administrative proceeding, an attorney representing Waymo acknowledged public reports that some parents had allowed children to use adult accounts to book rides. The company has said that the behavior violates its terms of service and could result in account suspension.
In another market, Phoenix, Waymo has introduced teen accounts for riders ages 14 to 17 that must be linked to a responsible adult. Whether such a program could be approved in California remains unclear.
Gig workers say they filed the complaint because they believe existing rulemaking discussions do not adequately address what they see as ongoing violations.
What parents should know about robotaxis, hail services in California
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Gig workers push California to halt Waymo rides for minors over safety
Reporting by James Ward, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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