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> In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Sharma said he did nothing wrong, and he will keep riding in the back seat with no one behind the stee

> In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Sharma said he did nothing wrong, and he will keep riding in the back seat with no one behind the steering wheel. > He believes his Model 3 can drive itself, and does not understand why he had to spend a night in jail. >He said he started riding in the back seat of autonomously driving Tesla vehicles in 2018 and has gone about 40,000 miles without being in the driver's seat. They should, at the minimum, suspend his drivers license. He is recklessly putting others at risk.

hobs 5y ago
I'd say at minimum if you are admitting commission of crimes like that it should be straight forward to confiscate your vehicle. "I started drinking and driving and I've done 40,000 miles!" would have most people want him in jail for longer than a night.
rrauenza 5y ago
Does he need a driver's license if he's not actually driving....? I really hope a lawyer doesn't try to make that argument. "Your honor, he's NOT in control of the vehicle!"
bombcar 5y ago
It'd be interesting to see if Tesla can revoke the auto drive license from his car. I wonder if they have some terms in the EULA permitting that. If I were Tesla I'd suggest it to the court as an appropriate "punishment" so it was clear it was at the court's orders.
- Crosseye_Jack 5y ago
  My first thought was that too (After all Tesla has revoked AP in past - https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/6/21127243/tesla-model-s-autopilot-disabled-remotely-used-car-update https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/6/21127243/tesla-model-s-aut... - in that case they re-enabled it after the news blew up. But on reflection I think its the wrong move. Its not the drivers first time doing this and there are already have laws in place for this sort of thing, Basically driving license revocation. (I understand that DUI drivers can be required to equip a breathalyzer as a condition to retain their licence, does this option get offered to repeat offenders?) Revoking auto drive wouldn't prevent the driver from selling the car and getting another Tesla if they REALLY wanted the feature back (It appears the person in question comes from a wealthy family). I don't feel that the loss of the feature would be much of a deterant and it penalises any other driver of the car who would use the feature correctly (which might even be the cars next owner).
mattrick 5y ago
Even if they suspend his license I have a feeling he's going to continue doing this because "I'm not actually driving the car".

hobs 5y ago

I'd say at minimum if you are admitting commission of crimes like that it should be straight forward to confiscate your vehicle. "I started drinking and driving and I've done 40,000 miles!" would have most people want him in jail for longer than a night.

rrauenza 5y ago

Does he need a driver's license if he's not actually driving....? I really hope a lawyer doesn't try to make that argument. "Your honor, he's NOT in control of the vehicle!"

bombcar 5y ago

It'd be interesting to see if Tesla can revoke the auto drive license from his car. I wonder if they have some terms in the EULA permitting that. If I were Tesla I'd suggest it to the court as an appropriate "punishment" so it was clear it was at the court's orders.

Crosseye_Jack 5y ago
My first thought was that too (After all Tesla has revoked AP in past - https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/6/21127243/tesla-model-s-autopilot-disabled-remotely-used-car-update https://www.theverge.com/2020/2/6/21127243/tesla-model-s-aut... - in that case they re-enabled it after the news blew up. But on reflection I think its the wrong move. Its not the drivers first time doing this and there are already have laws in place for this sort of thing, Basically driving license revocation. (I understand that DUI drivers can be required to equip a breathalyzer as a condition to retain their licence, does this option get offered to repeat offenders?) Revoking auto drive wouldn't prevent the driver from selling the car and getting another Tesla if they REALLY wanted the feature back (It appears the person in question comes from a wealthy family). I don't feel that the loss of the feature would be much of a deterant and it penalises any other driver of the car who would use the feature correctly (which might even be the cars next owner).

mattrick 5y ago

Even if they suspend his license I have a feeling he's going to continue doing this because "I'm not actually driving the car".