Witness video leads to ticket for Tesla driver allegedly caught sleeping on Highway 1

Two witnesses and video footage helped BC Highway Patrol identify and ticket a Tesla driver who was allegedly sleeping behind the wheel on Highway 1 in North Vancouver.

On August 11, 2026, shortly before 3:30 p.m., police received reports of a Tesla driver who appeared to be asleep while travelling on Highway 1 near Mountain Highway.

The witnesses were travelling in the same vehicle, and the passenger recorded video of the incident. Using the witnesses’ description and the video evidence, officers identified the Tesla’s registered owner and located her at her home in Maple Ridge.

The 45-year-old woman matched the description provided by the witnesses and was issued a $368 ticket for driving without due care and attention under Section 144(1)(a) of the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act.

Sergeant Michael McLaughlin of BC Highway Patrol said police would not debate the merits of self-driving technology with drivers who sleep behind the wheel, stressing that it remains illegal in B.C.

He also warned that driver inattention is a major factor in serious and fatal collisions and said motorists must remain fully focused and alert whenever they are driving.