Even if a Tesla car is driving on autopilot, the driver while intoxicated will be subject to administrative liability. Automotive lawyer Lev Voropaev told Motor magazine about this.
“If the driver is driving such a car while intoxicated, he will be held accountable under Article 12.8 of the Code of Administrative Offences. The current legislation does not yet provide for any exceptions in this regard,” Voropaev explained.
According to him, Russian laws do not contain the concept of “autopilot control” as a separate mode. From a legal point of view, even if the Tesla is driving in automatic mode, the driver is behind the wheel. It is he who is recognized as the person who sets the vehicle in motion, including with the help of autopilot systems.
According to the lawyer, this means that any penalties for drunk driving are fully applied regardless of whether the autonomous driving system is turned on or not. Inspection, fines, deprivation of rights – all this threatens the driver if he is intoxicated while driving a car with autopilot running. The legislation currently does not provide relief for such situations.
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