Tesla Owner Uses AI to Prevent Car Towing

A Tesla owner recently shared a unique use case for the company's FSD software, which relies heavily on computer vision and other AI technology. The owner and his wife parked overnight in a loading zone, believing they would not be towed on a Sunday. However, they watched from their fifth-floor window as a security guard prepared to have the Tesla towed away.

While the owner initially panicked and prepared to run, his wife suggested using the Summon feature. From the breakfast table, he opened the Tesla app and tapped Summon. The car woke up, moved out of the loading zone, and rolled up to the building's front door. The owner was able to jump in the vehicle just in time. The security guard was reportedly stunned by the event. The owner stated that the FSD software saved him $400 and a trip to the tow yard.

The incident began when a couple parked their Tesla in a loading zone overnight. The wife insisted that parking enforcement would not tow vehicles on a Sunday. Despite this assumption, the couple watched from their fifth-floor window as a security guard approached the vehicle. The guard began preparations to have the car towed away.

The owner initially reacted with panic. He took off his shoes and started to sprint toward the door. Before he could leave, his wife yelled a suggestion that would change the outcome of the situation. She told him to wait and simply summon the car.

Following his wife's advice, the owner opened the Tesla app from the breakfast table. He tapped the Summon option, activating the vehicle's autonomous capabilities. The car immediately responded to the command. It woke up and began to move, slipping out of the loading zone where the security guard was standing.

The vehicle navigated itself to the front door of the couple's building. The timing was precise, allowing the owner to jump into the driver's seat just as the car arrived. The security guard, witnessing the empty car moving on its own, asked if the vehicle was "like one of those Waymo things."

The use of the Summon feature successfully prevented the vehicle from being towed. The owner reported that the software saved him $400 and the inconvenience of a trip to the tow yard. He described the event as cementing the FSD software as his "best purchase ever."

The incident highlights a practical application of autonomous vehicle technology in an unexpected situation. The owner later described the experience as a "delightfully chaotic" use of the software. He also provided an impromptu explanation of the technology to the security guard.