Tesla Model 3’s Nine Cameras Catch a Vandal in the Act!
Smile, you’re on Candid Camera!
Have you ever walked out to your car only to discover it’s been scratched, dented, or damaged in some way? Oh, and of course there’s no note. It’s a frustrating experience, sending you off to deal with the body shop and the insurance company. A hassle. Tesla cleverly found a way to help. Using on-board cameras, you just might catch the jerk in the act.
Alan Tweedie experienced a just that recently when he discovered a giant scratch on his Tesla Model 3. CBS 4 Denver interviewed Tweedie about the damage and what he did next. After he attended his daughter’s soccer game, he walked out to the school parking lot to discover his Tesla had been had keyed, leaving a deep scratch along the driver’s side. He realized his Tesla’s Sentry Mode had recorded everything using nine on-board cameras. Tweedie went through the footage his Model 3 recorded. And there she was, a woman keying his car in living color.
“I found one where a woman distinctly came around with a key in her hand, dug it right in the side, walked it all the way up,” Tweedie said. “Very angry, very purposeful, definitely trying to conceal it.”
Tesla’s on-board cameras aren’t exactly an anomaly these days. Every new car sold in America is required to be equipped with a rear view camera, after all. But Tesla’s Sentry Mode’s higher sophistication does signify a change in how technology is impacting the car ownership experience.
Tesla updated their software to enable video recording only recently. A USB flash drive inserted into one of the car’s ports is required in order for the feature to work. Vehicles equipped with the ability to record straight from the factory is a feature completely unique to Tesla. That being said, dash cameras are now widely available and extremely affordable.
More cameras and evolving technology can present immediate benefits for their owners. For Tweedie, the Tesla captured absolutely everything he needed to catch the culprit. He shared the video with the Broomfield police, who used it in their investigation. And thanks to technological advancements, he can share his video on the internet, which is precisely what he did. Tweedie’s Facebook post quickly racked up over 100,000 views before CBS 4 even had a chance to interview him.
As a result, the suspect Maria Elena Gimeno, was identified and turned herself in to law enforcement. Gimeno had been charged with criminal mischief, a class 6 felony. And a little internet fame, and infamy.
Of course there are some who feel uncomfortable with automotive footage increasingly recorded and shared. Certainly the prospect of what to do with the content is something to be considered. Someone having a bad day could have an encounter follow them for the rest of their life. For example, in August, a police chief in China got fired when video surfaced of his wife deep in the throes of road rage.
The proliferation of automotive cameras are just another sign that the times are changing, and car ownership as it exists today could potentially be far different in just a few short years.
Photos: CBS 4 Denver; Alan TweedieÂ