TMC member James Morrison (jamesspice) was surprised to step into a parking lot in Burlington, Ontario and find police surrounding his Model 3. Turns out a concerned citizen had reported that Morrison had left his dog Amber in a hot car with the windows up.
Of course, Morrison was taking advantage of Tesla’s Dog Mode feature, which uses the vehicle’s sensors to keep the cabin temperature comfortable for pets that may be left in the car. The mode also shows a message on the center display telling passers-by the interior temperature and that the owner will return soon.
“The police officers were very nice,” Morrison said. “We showed them the dog mode and they asked to feel the temperature inside. They took photos of the sign, I expect to educate their peers.”
Interestingly, other owners also said they’ve received concern from passers-by that didn’t notice the message on the center display. Some have added paper signs to their windows to tell people their pet is safe.
“We have talked about getting signs to post in the car and I think we need to have them until the public in general knows more about Teslas,” Morrison said.
You can’t fault the well-meaning person who called the police without knowing about Tesla’s technology. But, it’s a good example of how Tesla’s technology is ahead of the industry and sometimes requires explanation.
See more pictures from the thread here.
This story was updated to include quotes from James.