BC Highway Patrol (BCHP) are again telling the public that sleeping while driving is illegal after catching another Tesla driver allegedly asleep at the wheel.

This time the BCHP is stating that these incidents of “sleepy drivers” are diverting police resources away from other calls. 

At 7:45 a.m. on Aug. 27, a BCHP officer was on a priority call when he passed a Tesla with a man in the driver’s seat and appeared to be asleep on Highway 1 near 248th Street in Langley.

The man allegedly had his eyes closed and both hands were off the steering wheel.

Despite being on the way to a priority call, the BCHP officer had to stop the Tesla driver. 

“The police officer’s observations and his Body Worn Camera appeared to show the Tesla driver was asleep, though the driver claimed otherwise,” said Sgt. Michael McLaughlin. 

“This traffic stop took a valuable resource away from another police call. If drivers would stop sleeping behind the wheel, we could go help people who need us more.”

The Tesla driver received fines for driving without due care and attention, a fine of $368, and failing to produce a driver’s licence, a fine of $81.

“We can’t ignore drivers who are inattentive to this degree,” says Sgt. McLaughlin. 

“The potential for serious injury or death is too high. If you’re sleeping, you’re forcing us to pull you over, and that means we’re going to leave you with financial consequences.”