Posted on 12/03/2018 7:52:16 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – Two California Highway Patrol Officers came up with a technique on the spot to stop a speeding Tesla Model S with an allegedly drunken driver asleep behind the wheel on the 101 Freeway in Redwood City on Friday, authorities said.
The encounter took place just before 4:30 a.m. on the southbound freeway near Whipple Avenue, the CHP said in a written statement.
The officers saw the car traveling at about 70 mph and realized the driver appeared to be unconscious, officials said. The driver showed no response when the officers activated their emergency lights and sirens while directly behind the Tesla in an attempt to pull it over.
"Officers then positioned their patrol vehicle in front of the Tesla and began slowing directly in front of the Tesla in hoped that the 'driver assist' feature had been activated, and therefore, the Tesla would slow to a stop as the patrol vehicle came to a stop," according to the statement.
They were able to slow the auto-piloted car to a complete stop.
After finally managing to rouse the driver, officers determined he was under the influence of alcohol, CHP officials said. Alexander Samek, 45, of Los Altos was arrested on suspicion of DUI.
"We cannot confirm at this time if the 'driver assist' feature was activated, but considering the vehicle's ability to slow to a stop when Samek was asleep, it appears the 'driver assist' feature may have been active at the time," the statement said.
Only if you are in the driver’s seat.
“Johnny Cab.”????
“I’m pretty sure in California, simply having the keys and being in the vehicle is enough to make you the driver.”
Back in my wilder years I got a snoot full one night and decided I couldn’t finish the trip home.
I pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant and parked in the far corner, threw the keys in the glove compartment, stretched out and went to sleep.
I woke up to a banging on the window.
A state trooper made me get out of the car and gave me a sobriety test. I failed. I was arrested and charged with DUI because I HAD CONTROL OF WHERE THE KEYS WERE. If I had control of where the keys were I could easily get them, start the car and drive.
This was in Virginia in 1982.
Luckily my lawyer was the judges brother. Case dismissed.
apple saving lives. ..
Oh, I agree autopilot is generally safer. Am looking forward to it for long freeway trips (no more boring 600 mile stretches). Unfortunately for him, it was still a legit DUI situation: he wasn’t ready to take over driving at a moment’s notice.
That is an excellent point! A good defense counsel would have him plead the 5th at trial, and then ask the prosecuting officers if they have any evidence of how he got in the car and who started it and input the address. If they don't, then in closing argument, the defense could argue that a friend or anyone could have put him in the car and told it to drive him home. If I'm on that jury, I would let him off. Most likely, it would be enough of an argument to get the prosecutors to reduce the charge and allow him to plea out without killing his insurance or bank account. They don't want any precedents to be set.
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