A Tesla driver in Colorado came up with an unusual defense after police pulled him over for speeding. According to police bodycam footage, the man insisted he was not actually driving because his Tesla was operating on Autopilot.
The traffic stop happened in Parker, Colorado, where an officer reportedly clocked the Tesla traveling at 64 mph in a 45-mph zone. That put the vehicle 19 mph above the posted speed limit.
When the officer approached and asked for his driver’s license, the Tesla owner immediately disputed responsibility. He told the officer, “I wasn’t driving,” before explaining that the vehicle was using assisted driving and Autopilot.
The officer was not convinced by that explanation. He repeatedly reminded the man that sitting behind the wheel made him responsible for the vehicle regardless of whether a driver-assistance system was controlling it at the time.
The Driver Insisted Autopilot Was Responsible
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The disagreement continued when the officer asked again for the man’s driver’s license. The driver maintained that the Tesla had been operating itself, while the officer responded that the car itself did not have a driver’s license.
The officer eventually issued a speeding citation for traveling 64 mph in the 45-mph zone. Interestingly, he also said this was not the first time he had stopped someone in a Tesla who claimed Autopilot was controlling the vehicle.
The driver then questioned how the situation would work in court. He asked how a judge could determine that he was driving when, in his view, the Tesla had been doing the driving.
The officer’s response remained unchanged throughout the exchange. Activating an automated driving feature did not remove the driver’s responsibility for controlling the vehicle or obeying traffic laws.
Autopilot Still Requires A Driver
Tesla Autopilot is a driver-assistance system rather than technology that turns the vehicle into a fully autonomous car. The person behind the wheel must remain attentive and prepared to intervene when necessary.
That distinction is particularly important when it comes to speed. Even if a driver-assistance system selects or maintains an incorrect speed, the human driver remains responsible for monitoring the car and making corrections.
The incident highlights a potential source of confusion surrounding increasingly sophisticated driver-assistance technology. A car handling steering, acceleration, and braking can certainly feel highly automated, but that does not mean the driver’s responsibilities disappear.
The Traffic Stop Became Heated
After receiving the ticket, the Tesla owner requested the officer’s supervisor and accused the officer of being rude. He also said he had recordings of the encounter and a witness who could support his complaints.
The officer explained that supervisors were busy and told the driver he could wait if he wanted to speak with one. The driver continued demanding a supervisor before the encounter eventually came to an end.
The speeding allegation itself was straightforward despite the lengthy argument. Police said the Tesla was traveling 64 mph in a 45-mph zone, while the driver’s primary defense was that Autopilot had been controlling the car.
That argument may become increasingly common as vehicles gain more advanced automated features. For now, however, sitting in the driver’s seat still comes with responsibility for what the vehicle does, regardless of how much help the software provides.