this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2026
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By the same logic if you're transporting unopened liquor in a grocery bag on the seat next to you it's "kinda justified" to be arrested for drinking while driving. After all why would it be in arm's reach if you weren't planning on drinking it?
Presumably the driver had previously used her phone, and the phone was in her lap. So the alcohol analogy would actually be re-sealed alcohol held by the driver or in a container around the driver's seat. Which is illegal in most of the USA.
So if the phone was on the seat she should get a ticket, if was on the console 2" to the right she should get a ticket, if it was in her pocket she should get a ticket? If it's in a dash mount within reach she should get a ticket? If the phone's in a sealed box like an unopened liquor bottle then she shouldn't?
You see now why alcohol is not a great analogy.
I got a lot of down votes above for pointing out the discrepancy. I think people got ahead of their skis: I wasn't trying to say she deserves DUI-level charges, I'm demonstrating that the analogy isn't great.