Here is a question those in their golden years may have thought they’d never hear: “Do DUI offenses apply to self-driving cars?” If they heard it, the response may well have been, “What the heck is a self-driving car?” It’s pretty self-explanatory really. If the car drives itself, it’s a self-driving car.
As astounding as it may seem, these vehicles are actually being used on the roads today. Self-driving cars, however, don’t operate 100% independently. This is unfortunate for a man who was recently pulled over for DUI while driving in California. In the hopes of beating the DUI charge, though he knew he was impaired, he had intentionally put his automobile in autopilot mode, trying to take advantage of the car driving itself. If the car is driving itself, he reasoned, he can’t be charged with “drunk driving”. Did it work?
DUI – What Does It Stand for?
Before we get to whether or not that driver was successful in convincing the courts he shouldn’t be held responsible for driving (because the car was on autopilot), let’s take the term “DUI” apart. The term refers to the words Driving Under the Influence.
Under the California Vehicle Code Section 23152, to be convicted of DUI, the following must be proven by the prosecution that not only were you driving the vehicle but when you drove the vehicle, you were under the influence of a drug, and/or alcoholic beverage.
So, the reasoning of the earlier referred-to driver who was pulled over was that he shouldn’t be arrested for DUI because the car was driving itself. To clarify whether or not he could be charged, the word “driving” had to be looked at closely.
People Versus Wilson
In the People vs. Wilson case of 1985, it was decided that even if a slight movement of the vehicle was caused, it was driving. To prove the person drove the car, driving could be established by either the ability of an officer to show enough circumstantial evidence for indirect proof of driving or direct observation of a police officer of the person operating the vehicle.
The Verdict
What does this all boil down to?
Here were the findings – To engage the autopilot system, the driver had to do two things:
- Start the vehicle’s engine
- Start driving and engage the autopilot
What’s more, the vehicle was in motion at 70 mph (exceeding the posted speed limit) when the officer observed it and, right there in the driver’s seat, sat the operator.
Guess where that left the driver? To date, setting a self-driving car on autopilot after getting behind the wheel under the influence is not allowable.
Did You Get Charged with a DUI Even Though Your Car Was Self-Driving? Contact Jackson-Bibby Awareness Group
If you have been ordered by the court to take a DUI class or need to enroll to get your driver’s license back, we can help. We have both first-time offender programs and multiple offender programs. Do you need to enroll in one of our programs?
To get an idea of how our classes run, click here to view the First-Time Offender Programs we have available and any associated fees.
We have offices in Barstow, Victorville, and Redlands California. Contact Jackson-Bibby Awareness Group today. If you have any questions, they may already have been answered on our FAQ page. If not, feel free to submit your question and we will do our best to answer you promptly.
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