A Vacaville driver was arrested on suspicion of DUI after police say he was found slumped in the seat of a Tesla that was still cruising through city streets, with a small pack of wine and a pizza box riding shotgun.
According to a 911 caller, the man appeared to be passed out while the Tesla continued moving through a Vacaville neighborhood. Responding officers later shared photos that show the driver leaning back in the seat, and they say they found evidence of both alcohol and marijuana inside the vehicle.
As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, officers stopped the Tesla shortly after 11 AM near Elmira Road and Shasta Drive. Vacaville police posted images of the incident on social media and, in a warning quoted by the Chronicle, reminded drivers that even newer assistive driving features still need to be conscious, alert and not under the influence.
Legal consequences
Police say the man was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Under California law, operating a vehicle while impaired is a criminal offense. Vehicle Code §23152 covers alcohol impairment, drug impairment and the combined influence of both, and sets out how such cases can be charged and punished.
What self-driving really means
Tesla describes its Autopilot and Full Self-Driving offerings as driver-assistance systems that require active human supervision and do not make its cars autonomous. News outlets have repeatedly covered similar situations in which drivers appeared to be asleep while these types of systems were active, and reporting by CBS News and ABC7 has highlighted regulators and safety advocates who warn against relying too heavily on driver-assist technology.
Local takeaway
The Vacaville Police Department has not publicly identified the arrested driver. In the department’s social media post, cited by the Chronicle, officers framed the stop as a reminder that assistive features can help, but they do not replace an alert, sober human being behind the wheel. The bottom line from local police: no matter how smart the car gets, the responsibility still lands on the person in the driver’s seat.
