Atlanta police now have a six-page playbook for what to do when a Waymo robotaxi stalls, behaves strangely or rolls straight into a closed scene. The guidance, adopted last year, lays out step-by-step procedures for traffic stops, crash response and how to get a human from Waymo on the line when there is no human in the driver’s seat. It landed in public view this month after a Waymo vehicle entered an active response on Cheshire Bridge Road, turning a quietly filed policy into a very visible one.
What the SOP requires
The Atlanta Police Department’s Special Order APD.SO.25.04, effective May 20, 2025, spells out how officers should interact with fully autonomous vehicles. It explains that Waymo cars are designed to pull over when they see flashing emergency lights, then unlock their doors and roll down their windows so a Waymo representative can talk directly with an officer. The order also instructs officers to call Waymo’s 24/7 hotline and, if needed, request on-site support or a recovery team, according to the Atlanta Police Department.
How officers handle closures and citations
Axios notes that the SOP tells officers that when a road must be closed for a significant period, they should either request a geofence or park a patrol vehicle in a way that keeps autonomous vehicles from entering the scene. The order warns that “Waymo may not be able to recognize crime scene tape,” which means traditional barriers are not enough. It also states the court system is currently unable to process traffic citations for autonomous vehicles with no human operator. In those situations, officers are told to file a detailed report instead of issuing a ticket. Axios flagged the guidance after footage circulated this month showing a Waymo vehicle in an active response on Cheshire Bridge Road.
Why it matters for safety and oversight
The procedures arrive as Waymo’s behavior in Atlanta is already under a national microscope. Federal investigators opened an NHTSA probe after video appeared to show a robotaxi steering around a stopped school bus. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that review and the company’s voluntary software recall aimed at changing how its vehicles behave near buses. Those incidents, along with the federal inquiry, help explain why APD decided it needed very explicit instructions for officers who suddenly find themselves managing driverless cars at chaotic scenes.
Legal and enforcement questions
The SOP also underscores how messy accountability gets when there is no human behind the wheel. Regulators have pressed Waymo for information, and the company has moved to roll out software updates and a voluntary recall, as reported by TechCrunch. Until clearer state or federal rules are on the books, local agencies are left to figure out how to enforce traffic laws and preserve evidence when the “driver” is an algorithm…