Vanessa and Donald Pearce parked a Tesla near a San Diego bakery and paid for 30 minutes. When they returned about 20 minutes later, they found an $85 ticket. Tesla Sentry Mode footage shows an officer chalking a tire at 12:55 p.m. and issuing the citation immediately, contradicting the officer's claim. The San Diego Police Department canceled the ticket and opened an internal investigation.
Tesla Sentry Mode Catches Officer Faking Parking Ticket — San Diego PD Opens Probe
Brickbat: Candid Camera
A Tesla owner's video has exposed what appears to be a manufactured parking violation in San Diego. Vanessa and Donald Pearce parked near a bakery, paid for 30 minutes of parking, and returned about 20 minutes later to find an $85 ticket on their windshield.
What the Footage Shows
The couple reviewed the car's Tesla Sentry Mode recording, which contradicted the parking officer's claim that the vehicle had been there since early morning. The footage clearly shows the officer chalking a tire at 12:55 p.m. and immediately issuing the citation — behavior that suggests the overtime violation was staged.
Public Reaction and Official Response
The Pearces posted the clip on social media, where it quickly went viral and drew widespread attention. Responding to the video, the San Diego Police Department opened an internal investigation, canceled the $85 ticket, and said it may review other citations issued by the same officer.
Why it matters: Many parking agencies use chalk marks to record arrival times, but video evidence like Tesla Sentry Mode can hold officers accountable and expose improper enforcement practices.
The incident highlights the growing role of in-car cameras and citizen-recorded evidence in resolving parking and enforcement disputes. The SDPD investigation will determine whether disciplinary action or a broader review of the officer's citations is warranted.
