Tesla「安全協議」阻止國土安全調查局特工安裝追蹤器

This article was produced in collaboration with Court Watch, an independent outlet that unearths overlooked court records. Subscribe to them here.

The “security protocols” on a Tesla stopped a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agent from placing a tracking device on it, according to a warrant reviewed by 404 Media.

On Halloween of 2025, an HSI Special Agent filed a more than 60 page application to place a tracking device on the Tesla of a suspected drug trafficker in Milwaukee. Agents had been watching alleged drug dealer Sam Stair — a local landlord they believed was using his rental properties as the front for a drug trafficking operation — for months when they asked a judge to let them install a tracker on his car. According to the warrant application, Stair went everywhere in a white Tesla and the agents wanted to see where it was when they couldn’t keep eyes on it.

“Case agents believed that Stair is using the Tesla to assist with drug trafficking and traveling to locations associated with the DTO [drug trafficking organization] and DTO members,” the application said. “Case agents are still attempting to identify other locations used by the DTO, other members of the DTO, and the source of supply for narcotics and believe that the court order would be beneficial for the investigation.”

A judge issued the warrant the same day the application was filed, but agents never got the tracking device on the car. “Search warrant not executed due to security protocols active on Tesla,” the agent said in a court filing about the warrant.

The court documents don’t elaborate on the specific “security protocols” that stopped them from placing a tracking device on the car, but the Tesla may have been in “Sentry Mode.” Teslas have eight external cameras that provide a 360 degree view of the car’s surroundings. This makes the car’s self-driving features possible but also allows owners to keep track of what’s going on around the car.

If a stranger approaches a Tesla while it’s in Sentry Mode, the car will flash its lights, sound an alarm, and start recording through its exterior cameras. The car’s dashboard activates and lets people outside know that Sentry Mode is active and that they’re being recorded. When the cameras start rolling, the car pings the owner via the Tesla phone app and they can watch what’s happening around their car remotely. If they’ve installed a USB drive in the car they can even save the footage.

The setback didn’t matter for the long-term investigation. A task force arrested Stair and 17 other people in May on drug trafficking charges. Stair pleaded not guilty and was released from jail on bond while he awaits trial.