A Florida traffic stop led to a citation for texting while driving after a deputy believed a driver was holding and manipulating a phone with her right hand. Body camera footage shows the driver holding up her right arm to reveal she does not have her right hand, responding with laughter and questioning whether the stop should end. The deputy stated he thought he saw the phone in her right hand despite her denials. The driver received a $116 citation. Palm Beach County court records show the citation was dismissed at the sheriff’s office request for insufficient evidence. The sheriff’s office said the stop was based on real-time visual observation and that the case was dropped after additional review of relevant statutes and consideration of the totality of circumstances.
"“You drove past me holding the phone with your right hand, manipulating that phone,” the deputy says in the video. That's when Thomas holds up her right arm, revealing she doesn't have her right hand. She laughs and says, “Obviously not.” She then adds, “So you want to just call this a day?” The deputy says he thought he saw her holding the phone in her right hand. Despite her denials, she was given a $116 traffic citation for texting while driving."
"Palm Beach County court records indicate the citation was dismissed Tuesday at the request of the sheriff's office for “insufficient evidence.” In a statement, the sheriff's office said the deputy initiated the traffic stop “based upon his visual observation at the time of the incident,” and that the decision was made to drop the case after “additional review of the Florida State Statutes involved and based upon the totality of the circumstances.”"
"“Law enforcement officers are required to make decisions based on observations made in real time. As with any enforcement action, motorists have the right to contest citations through the judicial process, where all facts and evidence can be fully evaluated.”"
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
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