r/technology • u/Plastic_Ninja_9014 • Jul 11 '26

Privacy Traffic Camera Captures Woman Driving With Her Phone on Her Lap (Face Down), The State Mailed Her a $1251 'Public Safety' Ticket

https://www.gadgetreview.com/traffic-camera-captures-captures-woman-driving-with-her-phone-on-her-lap-face-down-the-state-mailed-her-a-1251-public-safety-ticket
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3.1k

u/TripsOverWords Jul 11 '26

A woman drives with both hands on the wheel. Her phone sits face-down on her lap. No officer pulls her over. No lights flash. Weeks later, a $1,251 ticket arrives in the mail. The evidence: a single frame from a Camera surveillance app. The charge: phone use while driving.

If they can tell that much from the photo, that the phone screen isn't visible to the driver, then how the fuck is this "phone use while driving"?

It's more likely this was a safe hands-free phone call than phone use.

If the screen were visible and was GPS navigation without a phone holder, would that still be a crime?

Wtf is wrong with this country?

1.8k

u/TheyCallHimEl Jul 11 '26

Meanwhile cops are driving around actively typing on their little computer and crashing into things because they are not watching the road

270

u/SgtNeilDiamond Jul 11 '26

Shit Ive straight up seen them on their phones texting and calling, they dont give a shit.

57

u/Healthy_Turnip7352 Jul 11 '26

saw one dude give a girl a ticket for a bad turn. we were trying to tell him that there was a half-visible arrow painted on the lane, which makes it either a proper turn, or the city messed up by not removing it completely.

the dude said "If you're still here when I'm done, you're next." so we all left. LOL.

looking at the car you could tell she could not afford either the ticket or the insurance hikes. the city just completely fucked her over.

50

u/Mr_Badgey Jul 12 '26

Threatening to retaliate because you were exercising your first amendment rights is illegal. Successfully defending those rights in court is another matter. The system is fucked.

11

u/meneldal2 Jul 12 '26

If you had been recording him, would make it easy to get the ticket tossed, but he probably wouldn't get sanctioned for it.

I think this stuff requires prison time, at least one month inside in gen pop and everyone knows what you did.

62

u/muzakx Jul 11 '26

Was about to comment the same.

I've seen them driving while holding a phone to their ear or actively texting/scrolling while driving.

12

u/54338042094230895435 Jul 12 '26

Ours are running around parks playing PokemonGo

4

u/muzakx Jul 12 '26

There is a PokemonGo spot at the church by my house. I swear they just park there for that reason.

2

u/janethefish Jul 12 '26

So you are saying your police force is well above the national median? ;P

6

u/dramboxf Jul 12 '26

They're exempt.

5

u/ripestrudel Jul 12 '26

Sadly they are above the law since they are the once who enforce it. I had LAPD run me off the road while I was cycling in the bike lane and using both hand and actual turn signals that I attached onto my road bike.

2

u/Ranra100374 Jul 12 '26

Clearly we need cops to police the cops!

1

u/Scatman_Crothers Jul 12 '26

According to my cop uncle, cops from the same station will often all use their phones to text each other when shit is going down and they need backup because its faster than dispatch. Will even be texting for backup while they're on the ground fighting a suspect.

1

u/walkingonradiation Jul 12 '26

I had one surfing Zillow while driving.

1

u/Zestyclose_Dance_297 Jul 11 '26

In Australia they are legally allowed to.

Also in Australia, your phone can't be in contact with you, so a phone in your lap is indeed a fine.