BC police fine two Tesla drivers $368 after video shows them asleep behind wheel

Police from the B.C. Highway Patrol stopped two Tesla owners who were asleep while the cars operated on the Trans-Canada Highway. The first driver, observed on August 27 in Langley, had his eyes closed and was not holding the steering wheel, prompting officers to prioritize his vehicle over another call and levy a $368 fine for driving without due care, plus an $81 penalty for not producing a licence. The second case, captured on August 11 in North Vancouver, involved a Maple Ridge resident whose sleep was recorded by a fellow motorist; she received the same $368 fine.

The patrol emphasized that fully self-driving technology is illegal in B.C., though lower-level driver-assist features remain permitted. Officials warned that sleeping behind the wheel forces police to intervene and results in financial consequences. The incidents echo earlier viral videos of sleeping Tesla drivers and raise concerns about the effectiveness of Tesla’s driver-monitoring systems.