In a daring yet unsuccessful attempt, a man is now facing an attempted grand theft auto charge after his botched effort to steal a self-driving taxi in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday night. The suspect has been identified as Vincent Maurice Jones, a 33-year-old individual.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the incident took place at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Saturday when Jones entered a fully autonomous Waymo car. The vehicle had just dropped off a passenger near City Hall on Main Street, north of 1st Street. However, Jones' plans went awry as he struggled to operate the vehicle's controls, failing to put it into 'Drive'.

The LAPD statement did not confirm whether Jones had been formally charged or if he remained in police custody. Furthermore, it is unclear at this time whether he has legal representation.

If convicted of attempted grand theft auto in California, Jones could face a maximum penalty of up to three years in prison if charged as a felony, and one year if charged as a misdemeanor.

This incident comes as self-driving cars are becoming an increasingly common sight throughout California. Waymo, the autonomous vehicle company spun off from Google in 2016, recently received permission from the California Public Utilities Commission to expand its fleet of self-driving taxis in the greater Los Angeles area. Prior to this, Waymo had already launched its services in San Francisco and Phoenix.

With an impressive 50,000 Angelenos already on the waiting list for a free "on tour" Waymo ride, it is clear that the demand for self-driving taxis in California is growing rapidly.

As investigations continue, authorities will work to ensure the safety and security of autonomous vehicles while also addressing any potential vulnerabilities that arise.