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

submitted 1 month ago by spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works to c/technology@lemmy.world

273 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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.

Automated camera companies market their devices as automated license plate readers — tools for catching stolen cars, flagging warrants, and aiding serious investigations.

Sold as a Crime Tool. Used as a Fine Machine.

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[–] Kazumara@discuss.tchncs.de 80 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (22 children)

Since the article appears to be mostly a weird collection of badly referenced random cases, let me give you the primary source on the case in the headline:

https://www.tiktok.com/@kristakampz/video/7640403411845877012

Edit and also to save you having to go to tiktok, here's a frame extracted from the video:

Note, this was in Alexandra Headland in Queensland in Australia. So no idea why the article cites Georgia law....

Also this is relevant: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/road-safety/mobile-phones

Illegal mobile phone use while driving includes:

holding it in your hand

resting on any part of your body (eg. your lap or shoulder)

If you hold your phone or have it on your body, you will be fined even if you’re not operating the phone, or it’s turned off.

[–] lastlybutfirstly@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (17 children)

Why is it illegal to have a phone in your lap? That doesn't make sense. That's bizarre.

Edit:

Really? This is a hot take? WTF!

[–] WindyRebel@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

If you slam on the brakes or maybe brake too sudden and it flies off and onto the floor, then it could potentially slide under a pedal (like the brakes), hindering its function.

Is it likely? Probably not, but it is a dangerous hazard waiting to happen.

[–] lastlybutfirstly@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

I've been trying to wrap my mind around the logic of this law and this was one of the things I considered they must be worried about. It's not so much people using them, it's just they don't want them in the lap. Because Uber and Lyft drivers have to use them for work in the US. Here they have they often have a mount on the dash board to hold their phone and they're constantly taking calls and checking maps.

As you say though it's like a one in a million event freak accident if it flies off the lap and gets stuck under the pedal. It would be weird to pass a law for some off the wall scenario like that.

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