"Did He Think This Was a Chauffeur Service?"... Drunk Driving in Tesla with Autopilot Activated

Driving in Tesla Autopilot Mode

Blood Alcohol Level Warrants License Revocation

A man in his 30s was apprehended by police after operating a Tesla vehicle in autonomous driving mode while intoxicated. The police responded to a report of suspected drunk driving, blocked the vehicle by positioning their patrol car in front of it, and subsequently arrested the man.

According to Yonhap News on May 13, the Suwon Yeongtong Police Station in Gyeonggi Province announced that it had booked a man in his 30s, identified as Mr. A, on charges of violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving).

Mr. A is accused of driving his Tesla vehicle under the influence of alcohol from a public parking lot in Yeongtong Jungang Shopping District, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, to the vicinity of Cheongmyeong Station at around 12:17 a.m. on the same day.

The police were dispatched to the scene after receiving a report of suspected drunk driving. At around 12:21 a.m., they blocked Mr. A's vehicle with a patrol car and apprehended him.

At the time of the arrest, Mr. A was playing loud music in the vehicle, and the car was operating in autonomous driving mode, according to the police. His blood alcohol concentration was found to be at a level warranting license revocation.

The police are conducting a detailed investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident involving Mr. A.