The Cops Keep Asking Me If They Can Use My Tesla Model 3’s Sentry Mode, No One Told Me I’d Be Working Part Time For The Police Department

Can we look at your Tesla's security camera footage? 

Is this a common question that Tesla owners get from the police? Lauren Shaq (@notshaqlauren), who lives in the Dallas-Forth Worth area, has been asked by the local police if they can use her Tesla Model 3's Sentry Mode to view suspicious activity in her neighborhood. 

In her TikTok video, she says, 

"No one tells you when you get a Tesla that you're basically going to work part-time for the police department," she said in the short clip. "This is the ninth time cops have come to my door," she added.

What is Tesla's Sentry Mode?

Tesla's Sentry Mode is more than a security system. It monitors the vehicle even when you are not in it and when the car is locked. This proactive measure can help prevent theft, break-ins, and vandalism, giving you peace of mind about your vehicle's safety. 

If you are considering buying a Tesla vehicle, you will want to know this.

Tesla says, "When enabled, your vehicle's cameras and sensors (if equipped) remain powered on and ready to record suspicious activity around your Model 3 when it is locked and in Park. Think of Sentry Mode as an intelligent vehicle security system that alerts you when it detects possible threats nearby."

How Does Sentry Mode Work?

• Uses the car's cameras and sensors to detect suspicious activity 
• Alerts you when it detects a possible threat 
• It can sound the alarm and save a recording of the security event 

CapitalOne Auto says there are surveillance considerations

"Despite Sentry Mode's benefits, government officials in more than one country have raised concerns regarding the system's surveillance aspects and privacy ramifications. In certain areas of China, for example, the use of Sentry Mode as a security tool has been questioned and, in some cases, banned.”

Do Police Ask Tesla Owners for the Car's Camera Footage?

Yes. A recent post on Reddit says the San Francisco Chronicle reported that a Canadian tourist was visiting Oakland recently when he had to talk someone out of taking his Tesla from a hotel parking lot. This was no thief. It was the Oakland Police Department. 

It turns out the Tesla may have witnessed a homicide. In Oakland and beyond, police called to crime scenes are increasingly looking for more than shell casings and fingerprints. They're scanning for Teslas parked nearby, hoping their unique outward-facing cameras capture key evidence. 

The Technology Is Changing How Police Fight Crime

The S.F. Chronicle has found that they're even obtaining warrants to tow the cars to ensure they don't lose the video. This trend shows how mass surveillance—expanding cameras, license-plate scanners, security doorbells, and precise cellphone tracking—is changing crime-fighting. 

While few cars have camera systems similar to Teslas, that could change rapidly, especially as the technology in vehicles continues to improve.  "We have all these mobile video devices floating around," said Sgt. Ben Therriault, president of the Richmond Police Officers Association. 

Therriault said he and other officers now frequently seek video from bystander Teslas and usually get the owners' consent to download it without serving a warrant. Still, he said, tows are sometimes necessary if police can't locate a Tesla owner and need the video "to pursue all leads." "It's the most drastic thing you could do," he acknowledged.

Back to Lauren's Story

She says, "I looked at my Ring at the front door, and I'm like, they are here again? The policeman said, "Hey, something happened out there, and we were wondering if your car caught anything on its security camera. Could we look at your car's footage?"

Lauren says the police think her car is recording suspicious or illegal activity across the parking lot from where her Tesla Model 3 is parked. "It doesn't," she concludes. 

In the comments, she is asked if she has ever let the police use her car's Sentry Mode footage. She says no. "Nothing was recorded, or I would have."

However, the car's Sentry Mode footage did help when she was involved in an accident. "Omg, the recording of a lady hitting me is what helped me in my last accident," she says.

"I even get asked by neighbors if I know where their pet went!" She concludes, "Call me Officer Shaq." 

In the comment section, many say she should charge the police if she ever lets the police see the footage from her Tesla. 

M.K. says, That'll be $50 per minute of footage, sir.

Lauren responds, I like the way you think!

The Florist Lady: My Cybertruck captures everything. It's almost scary. I commented on a post saying, "If anyone wants footage, I will charge.

Final Thoughts and Questions for Tesla Owners

Tesla owners should know that their vehicles could be used if the police suspect an accident, crime, or serious threat has been captured by their car or Cybertruck's Sentry Mode. 

Potential Tesla buyers should know that Tesla's security system has become standard on every new Tesla vehicle. 

Tesla says, "If you choose to enable data sharing, in the occurrence of a serious safety risk or a safety event like a collision, the vehicle can share images and short video clips with us to help develop future safety features and software enhancements, such as collision avoidance."

Have you had a similar experience? We want to hear from you. Share your story in the comments below and be part of a community of Tesla owners who are navigating the implications of Sentry Mode and police requests for footage. 

Check out my Tesla Model 3 story: Model 3 Owner Responds to New Data Showing Tesla Drivers Are the Worst, “Some Tesla Drivers Like to Speed and Weave Between Lanes, But Many of Us Drive Like Responsible Adults”

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl