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Cops Are Towing Teslas to Recover Crime Scene Footage (gizmodo.com)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

16 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/24704051

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that police in Oakland, California, and other places, have been obtaining warrants that allow them to tow Teslas that may have been parked within close proximity to local crimes. In many cases, police will get the driver’s permission before they access the data inside the vehicles. However, on rare occasions, when police feel the information needs to be gotten quickly, they will simply use a court-ordered warrant to tow the vehicle and empty it of its necessary evidence.

The Chronicle reports that the warrant-and-tow method has been used by Oakland police in at least three instances over the past two months. The cars’ external cameras, paired with its sophisticated network of sensors, can prove particularly helpful in solving cases. In one recent case in the city, a woman was shot and killed after a group of men pulled guns on one another and began shooting. Police took advantage of video recorded by a nearby Tesla to aid their investigation. Ultimately, two men were arrested several weeks later and charged with murder, the newspaper reports.

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[–] [email protected] 55 points 5 months ago (3 children)

Listen. If they want to subpoena Tesla or the owner for the footage the way they would a store or other business, fine. But towing a car just to retrieve evidence without the knowledge and agreement of the owner is just theft and they should be sued.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 5 months ago

No you don’t understand, this is the police, so they can do what they want and we can’t complain or we will be arrested or killed.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 months ago (1 children)

According to the article, they're

obtaining warrants to tow the cars to ensure they don’t lose the video

Therriault said he and other officers now frequently seek video from bystander Teslas, and usually get the owners’ consent to download it without having to serve a warrant. Still, he said, tows are sometimes necessary, if police can’t locate a Tesla owner and need the video “to pursue all leads.”

It looks like the seizure and the search have to be warranted separately:

“Based on this information,” Godchaux wrote, “I respectfully request that a warrant is authorized to seize this vehicle from the La Quinta Inn parking lot so this vehicle’s surveillance footage may be searched via an additional search warrant at a secure location.”

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 months ago (2 children)

I read the article. Still theft with extra steps if the owner doesn't know. I also really don't understand why they can't subpoena Tesla directly and leave a person's property alone.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago

Tesla has better lawyers.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

It looks like the recordings are stored locally, so Tesla wouldn't be able to provide them anyway.

[+] [email protected] -6 points 5 months ago (2 children)

As shitty as it is to find your car gone, it is not theft. Theft has the intention of keeping the item, this is not true here. The owner can retrieve the vehicle later.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago

Isn't it tho?

Theft is more than intention. It's taking what isn't yours without permission. If I go to your house and steal your tv with the intention of giving it back to you at a later time, I think you'd say I stole your tv.

The police might have a warrant and legally be able to take your car which has the footage on it, one could argue it's legalized theft.

I think the point here is that, while the police might legally be able to do it, it might be pushing the boundary just a little and maybe the police shouldn't legally be able to take your car just because it was in the area of a crime.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

Okay i come and get your car, i'm not stealing it, i'm just drinking around for a bit, you can pick it up a week later at the grocery store.