Drivers in Canada have been slapped with hefty fines after allegedly being caught sleeping behind the wheel of their self-driving Tesla.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police announced earlier this month that it had fined a driver for allegedly sleeping while driving her Tesla.
Two fellow road users provided a video to the police and confirmed that they would be willing to testify in court following the incident.
Two witnesses called the police on Highway 1 near Mountain Highway in North Vancouver after seeing a driver who appeared to be asleep at the wheel.
The British Columbia Highway Patrol explained that both witnesses were in the same vehicle, and that the passenger recorded the video from the front seat.
Based on the video evidence, police officers were able to track down the registered owner of the Tesla to Maple Ridge, in the northeast of Greater Vancouver.
The 45-year-old owner was issued a ticket for driving without due care and attention, section 144(1)(a) of the BC Motor Vehicle Act.
She matched the description of the suspected sleeping driver and was issued a fine of CAD$368, or just under £200.
Sergeant Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol said: “Police will not debate the merits of self-driving technology with sleeping drivers.
“It’s illegal in BC, and we’re here to enforce the law and keep roads safe. Driver inattention is a major factor in serious and deadly collisions.
“You must be completely focused and alert when you’re behind the wheel of any motor vehicle in BC.”
Another driver was also slapped with a fine for appearing to be asleep at the wheel in heavy traffic in British Columbia.
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Nap on your couch? Sounds like a plan.
Sleep in your car? That’s a $368 dollar ticket.
A Langley driver is the latest person in BC to put others at risk by sleeping in heavy traffic.https://t.co/1Ob6KvJtlf pic.twitter.com/UUE51Ek6pA— BC Highway Patrol (@BCHwyPatrol) September 3, 2026
In this instance, a BC Highway Patrol officer was on a priority call during rush hour on Highway 1 near 248 Street, Langley, when he saw a driver who seemed to be asleep.
The police officer was forced to divert from the priority call because the driver had his eyes closed and both hands were off the steering wheel.
He was issued fines for driving without due care and attention, and failing to produce a licence, resulting in penalties of CAD$368 (£196.84) and CAD$81 (£43.33), respectively.
Sergeant McLaughlin explained that the police officer’s testimony and his body-worn camera showed the Tesla driver was asleep, despite his denial.
He slammed the driver, adding that his actions took a “valuable resource away” from another police call.
Sergeant McLaughlin continued, saying: “If drivers would stop sleeping behind the wheel, we could go help people who need us more.
“We can’t ignore drivers who are inattentive to this degree. The potential for serious injury or death is too high.
“If you’re sleeping, you’re forcing us to pull you over, and that means we’re going to leave you with financial consequences.”
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