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In a landmark case that has sent shockwaves through the electric vehicle community, a Chinese man has been sentenced to prison for using an aftermarket device to trick his car's driver-assist system—allowing him to drink, sit in the passenger seat, and fall asleep while the vehicle navigated public roads on its own.
The incident, which occurred in Hangzhou, China, in September 2025, highlights a dangerous and growing trend of drivers misinterpreting the capabilities of Level 2 driver-assist systems. It serves as a stark warning about the gap between marketing hype and the legal responsibilities of being a driver, no matter how advanced the technology.
According to court documents detailed by ITHome, the defendant, identified as Wang Mouqun, was already familiar with the law. He had a prior conviction for drunk driving less than two years earlier. Despite this, on the night of September 13, 2025, he decided to combine his vehicle's advanced driver-assist features with alcohol, using a cheap aftermarket gadget to bypass the system's safety checks.
The story began shortly after midnight when Wang drove home from a restaurant in Tangqi Town after drinking. But just 45 minutes later, at around 1:15 a.m., he got back behind the wheel. This time, he didn't intend to drive himself. He activated his electric car's Level 2 autonomous driving system, a feature similar to Tesla's FSD (Supervised) or other advanced driver-assist packages. He then set a destination and engaged a privately installed device, often colloquially called a "smart driving aid" or "nag eliminator," designed to mimic the touch of a human hand on the steering wheel.
With the device tricking the car into believing a driver was attentive, Wang climbed into the passenger seat, leaned back, and fell into a drunken slumber. For over 20 minutes, the vehicle drove itself through the city's streets, its safety system fooled by the constant, simulated input from the aftermarket gadget. The car eventually reached its destination and pulled over to the side of the road in the Linping District. There it sat, hazard lights possibly off, with a man passed out in the passenger seat.
The bizarre sight of a parked car blocking a local road with only a sleeping person inside caught the attention of passersby, who alerted the police. When officers arrived, they found Wang unconscious in the passenger seat. A breathalyzer test, followed by a blood test at a hospital, confirmed their suspicions: Wang was heavily intoxicated, with a blood alcohol level of 114.5 milligrams per 100 milliliters, well above the legal limit. It was his second alcohol-related offense in under two years.
The 'Magic' Device and the Limits of Level 2
The case reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of what Level 2 systems can and cannot do. These systems, which combine adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance, require constant driver supervision. The "nag"—those audio and visual alerts demanding the driver put their hands on the wheel—is not a bug; it's a critical safety feature. Wang's vehicle, like most with such capabilities, was programmed to disengage and slow down if it detected no driver input for a set period, typically around two minutes.
The aftermarket device Wang used was designed specifically to defeat this safety net. By simulating the electrical resistance of a human hand on the capacitive steering wheel, it sent a false signal of attentiveness to the car, allowing the system to operate indefinitely without any human oversight. This allowed Wang to commit a cascade of violations: driving drunk, tampering with a safety system, and effectively ceding all control to a machine not designed to handle it alone.
The Hangzhou Linping District Court, in its ruling, made a crucial distinction that sets a legal precedent. Wang's defense might have argued that he wasn't "driving" during the second leg of the trip. The court firmly rejected this notion. It cited the national standard for automotive driving automation, which clearly classifies Wang's system as Level 2—driver assistance, not autonomous driving.
The court's reasoning was clear: the driver who activates the system is still the person "actually performing the driving task." By using an illegal device to evade the system's monitoring, and by moving to the passenger seat, Wang was engaging in "illegal driving." His blood alcohol level, combined with his prior offense, negated any leniency, leading to a conviction for dangerous driving. He was sentenced to one and a half months in prison and a fine of 4,000 yuan.
A Global Warning
While this case unfolded in China, its implications are global. As vehicles with sophisticated driver-assist features become more common, so too does the temptation to push their boundaries. Online marketplaces are flooded with "defeat devices" designed to fool these safety systems, marketed to drivers who want to eat, text, or even sleep while their car does the work.
This case stands as one of the first to criminally charge an individual not just for drunk driving, but for actively tampering with a Level 2 system to enable reckless behavior. It shatters the illusion that these features can serve as a chauffeur. Whether it's called FSD, Super Cruise, or ProPILOT, the technology on the road today is a co-pilot, requiring a sober, attentive driver ready to take over at a moment's notice.
Wang Mouqun is now serving his sentence, a cautionary tale for the age of artificial intelligence. As one legal expert noted, you cannot delegate your responsibility as a driver to a machine, and you certainly cannot delegate it while intoxicated in the passenger seat. For those looking to charge their own electric vehicles safely and legally, a reliable home charging setup is essential. You can find options like the Tesla Universal Wall Connector with a 24-foot cable on Amazon to ensure you're ready for the road ahead—while staying firmly in the driver's seat.