In a daring move, Elon Musk had previously declared that he would test his car by driving to meet Mark Zuckerberg and engage in a live stream showdown if they crossed paths. And just last Friday, Musk fulfilled this promise by live streaming himself driving through Palo Alto, California, holding his phone while behind the wheel. This act was clearly a violation of the law in California, where using a handheld device while driving is strictly prohibited. Surprisingly, Musk did not receive a ticket for his actions, as the officer on the scene did not personally witness the offense.
Typically, in California, if an officer observes a driver using their handheld device while driving, they have the authority to issue a citation, as it is considered a hands-free violation.
The live stream, spanning a lengthy 45 minutes, depicted Musk sitting in the driver’s seat, in control of the vehicle. The purpose of the stream was to showcase the capabilities of the Full Self Driving system, ensuring that the car did not run any red lights. However, the officer’s justification for not issuing a ticket was that they did not personally witness the event at the time. According to protocol, officers are required to report to a judge what they personally witness, verify the driver’s identity and license, and collect any pertinent information, such as the vehicle’s registration or VIP number, for future reference.
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