---
title: "Tesla Model 3 Driver Pulled Over For Having ‘Computer’ Strapped to Dashboard"
description: "The officer wasn't quite familiar with electric car's minimalist interior."
date: "2018-10-01"
modified: "2018-10-01"
authors:
  - name: "Kyle Cheromcha"
    job_title: "Editor-in-Chief"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kyle-cheromcha"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/23956/tesla-model-3-driver-pulled-over-for-having-computer-strapped-to-dashboard"
categories:
  - "Car Tech"
  - "Infotainment"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
  - "Tesla News"
  - "Watch This"
tags:
  - "compact"
  - "distracted driving"
  - "Electric Cars"
  - "Electric Vehicle"
  - "model 3"
  - "police"
  - "screen"
  - "sedan"
  - "Tesla"
---

# Tesla Model 3 Driver Pulled Over For Having ‘Computer’ Strapped to Dashboard

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/10/tesla-model-3-stop.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

The vast touchscreen that anchors the [Tesla Model 3's button-less interior](<https://www.thedrive.com/video/23350/a-touchscreen-haters-tour-of-the-tesla-model-3-touchscreen>) has its fair share of pros and cons. Good: it's a forward-thinking attempt at reimagining how we interact with our vehicles, and it looks pretty slick. Bad: there's always a chance that a police officer will think you've got an actual computer strapped to your dashboard and pull you over for distracted driving, as seen in this video [spotted by *InsideEVs*.](<https://insideevs.com/video-tesla-model-3-pulled-over-police-computer-dash/>)

[Tesla Model 3](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/17280/tesla-model-3-the-first-serious-review>) owner Jon Hall was driving his electric car on Saturday when a passing motorcycle officer mistook its central touchscreen for a homebrew setup. Hall happened to have his inside-facing dashcam running at the time, and you can see the officer pull up alongside him in traffic as the clip begins before making the stop about twenty seconds later.

https://youtube.com/embed/tknQoFmk5N0

The officer opens by telling Hall that he's "not allowed to have \[a\] computer mounted on there." Hall pauses for a beat then laughs, thinking the officer is making a joke. "Could you help me take it off?" he replies in jest. But the cop is serious, saying that while it's "kinda cool" that he's got it rigged as a navigation system, it's illegal to use such a big device while driving. Hall's face turns to genuine surprise as he tries to explain that it's the stock setup for the car.

"What is this thing?" the officer finally asks, at which point Hall tells him it's a Tesla Model 3 and details the various functionalities found in the touchscreen. There are a few awkward pauses as both sides figure out how exactly to proceed. Clearly wishing he could rewind time, the officer apologizes for the mix up and sends Hall on his way.

Screens are inescapable these days, and they're taking up more dashboard real estate than ever. Even if the officer was mistaken by the letter of the law in this situation, it's still ironic that someone driving an older vehicle with an equally-sized box strapped to the dash probably would have received a ticket here. The Tesla's tablet comes straight from the factory and is used for the car's vital functions, but it still represents the same basic principle.

Then again, [if some manufacturers have their way,](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/17588/a-lesson-from-ces-2018-all-these-screens-in-cars-might-be-going-to-kill-us>) we'll look back on moments like this as fun little anecdotes from a transient era. A car with just a single screen? How cute.

## Author
Overseeing an expert staff of writers and editors from his lair in Los Angeles, Kyle shapes The Drive’s singular approach to covering the automotive industry and car culture. He’s been with the site as a writer since 2017, taking over as editor in 2019. On a daily basis, Kyle is responsible for directing The Drive's editorial news and car review content strategies, setting special coverage priorities, managing complex reporting projects, and ensuring what you read on the page meets our high internal standards for quality and trustworthiness. He is also the executive producer of The Drive's YouTube channel, which was relaunched in February 2024 to great acclaim and has accumulated over 14M new views in its first year back on the scene. He hosts a biweekly series on the channel where he breaks down fascinating and complicated stories from the automotive world.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/kylecheromcha.bsky.social>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/kylecheromcha>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyle-cheromcha-1550248a/>)