'I wasnt driving. I had Autopilot on': Teslas Full Self-Driving system is getting drivers speeding tickets, and owners arent happy

Date:
Fri, 07 Aug 2026 21:00:00 +0000

Description:
Tesla's autonomous driving systems are getting drivers speeding tickets but the law is having none of it.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter A police officer pulled a Tesla over for traveling 64mph in a 45 mph zone The owner attempted to plead innocence as Full Self-Driving was running Police issued a very blunt
response Video footage has surfaced online that shows a police department in Parker, Colorado, reportedly pulling over a Tesla for traveling 64mph in a 45mph zone.

While this isnt unusual in itself, the plea from the Teslas driver is, as the excuse was that they weren't in control at the time. I wasnt driving. I had Autopilot on, came the plea. The three-minute video was released by the police, alongside a blunt reply (or perhaps a warning to other drivers?) that read: Driver assistance technology does not replace the driver. 'I Wasn't Driving': Speeding Motorist Blames Tesla Autopilot for Ticket - YouTube Watch On Whether your vehicle has adaptive cruise control, lane centering or full self-driving, you are still legally responsible for operating your vehicle safely, the response added.

Despite the driver being clocked at 64mph in a 45mph zone, the Tesla owner belligerently claims they werent in control, it wasnt their fault and that
the self-driving system was activated. You may like Tesla relies on cameras for self-driving, and Waymo says that isnt enough Rivian's boss says Level 4 autonomous driving is 'closer than people think' Tesla's Wade Mode lands
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The police officer then says: I dont know how these systems work, but youre not the first person I have stopped with Autopilot activated.

In fact, one of Electreks own writers documented the moment he got a speeding ticket while using Teslas Full Self-Driving. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Despite setting the system to Standard mode as opposed to the faster Hurry
or Mad Max settings the vehicle still crept up to 78km/h in a 50km/h zone. Analysis: Bad by design (Image credit: Tesla) Teslas Autopilot and Full Self-Driving systems are designed to assist the person behind the wheel, rather than completely replace them, no matter what Elon Musk espouses in his various public statements.

Currently, the law states that the buck stops with the driver, and any reckless driving, speeding or accident ultimately remains the drivers fault, as they need to be ready to take control if and when these systems fail. What to read next I tested five speed camera detectors for drivers here's the one I'd buy I replaced Ford's hands-free driving subscription with a $1,000 open-source gadget AI traffic cameras that can catch you texting spark backlash in Mississippi

However, Tesla makes things difficult, as it has designed FSD to drift over the limit, even in Standard mode, and also took away the adjustable speed offset that once allowed owners to cap how far over the limit the vehicle would creep in autonomous modes.

Electrek reports that the adjustable speed offset was recently removed in
FSD v14 and replaced with fixed driving profiles.

It is easy to see why Tesla has trained its systems this way, as many drivers get frustrated when technology vehemently adheres to speed limits and subsequently fails to keep up with traffic.

But with many other semi-autonomous cruise-control technologies, the driver has complete control over the speeds at which they are happy to creep over
the limit.

If Teslas driving assistance systems keep landing drivers in hot water, many will stop using them entirely, which is exactly the opposite of what the company wants.

After all, Elon Musk has long promised that drivers will soon be able to text and immerse themselves in all manner of side tasks in the very near future.

But right now, it feels like Tesla owners need to be more alert than ever. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vehicle-tech/hybrid-electric-vehicles/i-wasnt-drivin g-i-had-autopilot-on-teslas-full-self-driving-system-is-getting-drivers-speedi ng-tickets-and-owners-arent-happy


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