CHP Cites Tesla Driver for Sleeping at 60 mph in Solano County
A California Highway Patrol officer stopped a Tesla driver in Solano County who was allegedly asleep behind the wheel while the vehicle traveled at 60 mph with Full Self-Driving engaged. The driver received a citation for unsafe speed and was warned that the system requires active human supervision.
Key points
- A CHP motorcycle officer observed a Tesla driver slumped over the steering wheel while wearing dark sunglasses on a highway in Solano County.
- The vehicle was traveling at 60 mph with Tesla's Full Self-Driving feature active, prompting the officer to pull the car over.
- The driver was issued a citation for unsafe speed and received a warning that driver-assistance systems do not replace the need for an attentive human operator.
- CHP emphasized that Tesla's Full Self-Driving is a Level 2 driver assistance tool, meaning the driver remains legally responsible for controlling the vehicle at all times.
- This incident follows previous cases in California where Tesla drivers were caught sleeping or impaired while using driver-assistance features, including a Cybertruck incident in Marin County and a DUI arrest in Vacaville.
Background
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about driver complacency with advanced driver-assistance systems. In August 2026, a AAA study found that many California drivers regularly exceed speed limits, with 33% admitting they ignore limits because they believe others do so. Additionally, in March 2026, Vacaville police arrested a Tesla driver for DUI after finding them asleep behind the wheel with alcohol and food nearby, while a Cybertruck driver was filmed sleeping on Highway 101 in May 2026. These events underscore the persistent risk of drivers treating Level 2 assistance systems as fully autonomous.
Why it matters
The incident reinforces the legal and safety reality that current driver-assistance technologies, including Tesla's Full Self-Driving, are not autonomous and require constant human supervision. It serves as a public reminder that using these systems does not exempt drivers from responsibility for vehicle control, and that drowsy or distracted driving remains a serious violation of California traffic laws.
What to watch
CHP will likely continue to monitor and publicize incidents involving driver-assistance systems to deter misuse. Drivers in California are expected to remain vigilant and adhere to speed and attention laws, regardless of the technology enabled in their vehicles.
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