What Does the Law Say About Drunk driving in Self-Driving Cars?
Autonomous driving vehicles are the technology of the future, but that’s not always a good thing. As this new technology rapidly takes off, the laws governing it haven’t fully caught up. The questions always seem to outpace the answers. For example, can you get a DUI in a self-driving car? Fortunately, that is one question that does have an answer. Current Events When Tesla announced autonomous driving capabilities in their new vehicles, they made sure the law could keep up. For the self-driving feature to work, a passenger had to be sitting in the driver’s seat. Including this requirement meant that anyone behind the wheel would now be classified as an operator and could, in fact, be arrested for driving under the influence. In January of this year, this exact situation played out on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. After drinking, a man took a nap in the driver’s seat of his Tesla on the commute home. Local police monitor the bridge pretty heavily, so once a call came in about a man asleep at the wheel, they were on the scene quickly. When the driver
was pulled over, he assured the officers everything was okay by explaining that the car was on autopilot. He did not understand the law and ended up being arrested on suspicion of DUI. Future Passengers are also classified as operators in a self-driving car because the vehicle has to be started by human interaction, and the autopilot feature has to be activated in the same manner. In these cases, the intent is factored in along with the interpretation of the law. It’s still plausible that a passenger riding home could take control over the vehicle, in which case certain physical control laws could come into play that would still result in a DUI. Now, if a passenger couldn’t take control of the car and was not in the driver’s seat, they would be in accordance with most state DUI laws. For the foreseeable future, all self-driving cars will require a driver who is alert and awake at the wheel. Whether that will change has yet to be decided. Until then, safe travels, whether your vehicle is in control or you are.
TAKE A BREAK
Inside-Out Grilled Ham and Cheese
Want to take your grilled cheese game to the next level? This recipe calls for cheese both inside and outside the sandwich, adding a crispy crunch to the grilled cheese experience. It’s a quick, delicious weekday dinner option the whole family will love.
Ingredients
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8 slices of bread (Pullman works best) 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (preferably Parmigiano- Reggiano)
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8 ounces ham, thinly sliced 1/2 pound Swiss cheese, sliced 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
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1/4 cup apricot preserves
Directions
1. Butter each slice of bread on the outsides and sprinkle with Parmesan. 2. Layer ham and cheese evenly on top of 4 slices of bread. 3. Spread apricot preserves and mustard across the other 4 slices. Press sandwiches together. 4. In a cast iron skillet or large sauté pan over medium heat, grill sandwiches until golden, about 3 minutes per side. 5. Cut in half and serve.
Inspired by Food & Wine magazine
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