BURSTA Tesla driver was fined after a BC Highway Patrol officer spotted him allegedly sleeping behind the wheel on Highway 1 near 248 Street in Langley.
The incident happened on Aug. 27 at about 7:45 a.m. during the morning rush hour.
The officer was responding to a priority call when he apparently saw the Tesla with the driver’s eyes closed and both hands off the steering wheel. The officer diverted from the call to stop the vehicle.
“The police officer’s observations and his Body Worn Camera appeared to show the Tesla driver was asleep, though the driver claimed otherwise,” said Sgt. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol.
The driver was fined $368 for driving without due care and attention and $81 for failing to produce a driver’s licence under the BC Motor Vehicle Act.
McLaughlin said the traffic stop took a police resource away from another call.
“No matter what faith you have in your vehicle’s technology, sleeping while driving is illegal,” he said.
Other BC Highway Patrol officers were able to respond to the original call, which involved a man with an extensive police history who was walking on the highway.
“We can’t ignore drivers who are inattentive to this degree,” McLaughlin said. “The potential for serious injury or death is too high.”
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