Quick Shifts

Each week I bring you the top stories in the auto industry along with my commentary or sometimes amusing thoughts about the craziness that goes on in the world of cars.

Stories you’ll find today:

• This Is Not How Any of This Works
• “I’m Just a Girl” Isn’t a Legal Defense
• Six Months Later, Surprise—We Had Your Car!
• Because LA Traffic Waits for No One

This Is Not How Any of This Works. A Florida man is facing DUI charges after attempting a defense that might be a first—claiming he wasn’t driving because his 2019 Ford F-150 was in “self-drive” mode. According to deputies, the 44-year-old was pulled over after his truck drifted across lanes at what was described as an unhurried pace. When approached, officers noted an open container, the unmistakable smell to match, and a driver who appeared completely convinced he had done nothing wrong. His explanation: the truck had been operating itself for most of the trip, and he was merely supervising with his hands near the wheel. He reportedly asked deputies to look up the vehicle’s features before making any decisions and argued that, as a supervisor, he shouldn’t be held responsible for the vehicle’s actions. There was just one problem—the truck doesn’t have any form of autonomous driving capability. Deputies were already aware of that, and the explanation didn’t gain any traction when the driver suggested the lack of such a feature was the manufacturer’s issue, not his. He was charged with DUI, open container, and failure to maintain a lane, and the truck was impounded. The takeaway here is fairly straightforward: you can’t hand off driving duties to technology your vehicle doesn’t have, and even if you could, “supervising” from the driver’s seat isn’t the legal loophole it sounds like after a few drinks.

“I’m Just a Girl” Isn’t a Legal Defense. A Florida driver learned the hard way that “I’m just a girl” isn’t a recognized legal defense after being clocked driving well over 100 mph and then arguing her case during a tense roadside stop captured on bodycam. Deputies say the stop began after she was observed traveling at triple-digit speeds, turning what should have been routine into something far more serious. Once pulled over, she repeatedly downplayed the situation, insisting she wasn’t doing anything wrong and offering explanations that didn’t line up with what officers had just witnessed. The interaction quickly escalated as she resisted instructions and continued to argue, while deputies worked to keep the situation under control. Ultimately, she was taken into custody and now faces serious traffic-related charges tied to the incident. The video has since circulated widely, largely because of the disconnect between the speed involved and the explanation offered. The takeaway is simple: once you push past 100 mph, you’re no longer in a gray area. At that point, it’s not about interpretation or excuses—it’s about consequences, and the speedometer doesn’t negotiate.

Six Months Later, Surprise—We Had Your Car! A Detroit-area woman learned the hard way that just because your stolen car is found doesn’t mean you’ll ever hear about it. After her 2015 Hyundai Sonata was taken from her driveway, she did everything right—filed a police report and contacted her insurance company, which eventually paid out after the vehicle was presumed gone for good. The twist is that police had actually recovered the car the very same day it was stolen, but she was never notified, and it sat in an impound lot for six months. By the time she finally got word, the situation had completely flipped—her insurance company now owned the vehicle, and her only option to get it back was to buy it at auction like anyone else. The car was reportedly still in good condition, with her belongings inside, which somehow makes it worse. Detroit police say they are reviewing what went wrong, and told 7 News Detroit that they are going to work with Crane and her insurance to get her reimbursed by the department. The takeaway here is simple and frustrating: sometimes the system technically works, but still manages to fail you. Because finding your stolen car the same day should be the best-case scenario—not the beginning of a six-month detour that ends with you bidding on your own vehicle.

Because LA Traffic Waits for No One. If you’ve ever sat in Los Angeles traffic, you already know why this idea exists. The Los Angeles Fire Department has added a fleet of electric motorcycles to help firefighters get to emergencies faster in a city where congestion can turn a short drive into a long wait. These bikes aren’t replacing fire trucks—they’re designed to carry firefighters and essential medical gear so they can reach patients quickly in places where larger vehicles simply can’t maneuver. Because California allows motorcycles to split lanes, these units can move through gridlock instead of sitting in it, giving first responders a critical time advantage. Each motorcycle operates as part of a small response team, allowing firefighters to assess situations, begin treatment, and call in additional resources if needed. They can also navigate tight urban areas and even rough terrain, making them useful beyond just traffic-heavy streets. The takeaway here is simple: this is one of those rare ideas that makes immediate, practical sense. It may look different to see firefighters arriving on two wheels, but when minutes matter, faster is better—and nobody in need of help is going to question how they got there.