Jones attempted to put the vehicle in 'Drive' but was unable to manipulate the controls, police say.
In a recent incident in Los Angeles, a homeless man found himself in trouble after attempting to steal a Waymo self-driving car. NBC News reported.
The arrest on suspicion of carjacking occurred when the man, identified as Vincent Maurice Jones, entered the white autonomous vehicle just after he had dropped off a passenger on Main Street north of 1st Street.
The Los Angeles Police Department revealed that Jones, 33, attempted to manipulate the controls to drive the car, but was thwarted by the vehicle's advanced technology. A police statement, detailing the failed attempt, said: “Jones attempted to put the vehicle in 'Drive' but was unable to manipulate the controls.”
When a Waymo representative discovered the intrusion, he used the car's online communications system to tell Jones to get out. Despite this, Jones refused, prompting the company to involve the police. A Central Division police unit subsequently responded, leading to Jones' arrest for attempted carjacking.
Police did not confirm whether charges had been filed or whether Jones was still in custody. In California, attempted car theft carries possible penalties of up to three years in prison for felonies and one year for misdemeanors.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported and the Waymo vehicle was unharmed. Waymo, a subsidiary of Alphabet, has been testing autonomous vehicles in Los Angeles for more than a year. Recent events have given Waymo approval to officially expand its self-driving services to Los Angeles County.
