Watch Tesla driver plea with police after FSD drove 64 mph in a 45

A Tesla driver in Parker, Colorado, was pulled over for going 64 mph in a 45 mph zone and told police he wasn't responsible because "Full Self-Driving" (Tesla's driver-assist software) was engaged. Police weren't swayed, saying driver-assist technology never replaces the driver and the person behind the wheel is still legally responsible, no matter what the system is called. That's correct: like other automaker systems, Tesla's FSD is what's known as a Level 2 system, meaning a human is still supposed to be driving while the software helps out.

The article argues the confusion isn't really the driver's fault. Tesla markets the software as "Full Self-Driving" and has suggested drivers can do other things behind the wheel, but falls back on "the driver is always responsible" when something goes wrong. It also points out that Tesla used to let owners set a hard cap on how far over the speed limit FSD would drive, but removed that option in a recent update, replacing it with preset modes (including one literally called "Mad Max") that can push the car well past posted limits. Tesla's head of AI has reportedly said giving drivers that control back is something the company won't do.

For homeowners who also drive a Tesla, this is a reminder that FSD is a driving aid, not an autonomous system, and speeding tickets or violations still fall on the driver regardless of which mode is active.