US2 min(s) read
Published 09:45 14 May 2026 GMT
Using a phone while driving is a dangerous habit that can be fatal and land you in serious trouble with traffic cops.
In 2024, around 315,167 injuries and 3,208 deaths were caused by people using devices while driving, according to data from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Understandably, cops issue many citations for distractions related to mobile phone usage.
However, drivers often appeal the citations, and one content creator has proved that she definitely did not deserve to be penalised.
Creator Katie’s interaction with the cop charging her went viral on TikTok, gaining over 39.5 million views because he accused her of using her phone with her right hand, but she does not have one.
The video begins with Katie saying: “Turns out you can still get a ticket for driving with a device in your right hand, even if you don’t have a right hand.”
The clip then cuts to footage of the interaction.
While he leans into her car window, the officer can be heard saying: “All right, ma’am, so you’re gonna receive a citation for a wireless communication device, handheld while driving.”
Explaining his reason for pulling her over, he says: “We gotta put the phone down as we operate a motor vehicle.”
Seeking clarification, she says: “Oh, and you put on the [ticket] that you saw me with my right hand holding it?”
He agrees that he saw her using the phone with her right hand, even after she reiterates: “You saw me holding my device with my right hand?”
Then the cop instructs her that in order to contest the citation, she can take the matter to court.
One-handed Katie was charged with 'Wireless Comm. Device/Handheld While Driving – First Offense' under Florida Statute 316.305(3)(a), with a civil penalty of $116.
There is no doubt that Katie will never have to pay the fine or have any trouble trying to convince the court that the charge was unwarranted.
Also, besides the fact that there was no way the driver could have been holding a phone with her right hand, there were other issues with the cop stopping her.
According to Florida Statutes, a person isn’t allowed to manually type or enter letters, numbers, symbols, or other characters into a device while driving, so holding a phone is not necessarily enough to justify a traffic stop if a driver is not actively using it.
