this post was submitted on 11 Jul 2026
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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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[–] auzy1@lemmy.world 3 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

Not allowed to keep her phone on her lap when driving. Let's be honest, she used it, and put it down quickly

Here in Australia a cop busted me using my phone once (not defendable, but I was at a red light).

I have no problem with that. I also have no problem with mobile phone detection either still despite getting pulled over

If you don't want to follow the traffic laws don't drive or change country (but don't complain if you get hit by a oncoming car)

[–] ChanchoManco@lemmy.zip 2 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

Yes she probably used it, that's when she can be ticketed, she shouldn't be fined on a presumption.

Edit: Reading the note the charge is using phone while driving, not carrying the phone in unsafe manner.

Also I despise people using their phone while driving, the point here is that they must charge people for a valid reason and with proof of the infraction.

[–] auzy1@lemmy.world 2 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

Jesus. Who is actually up voting this?

The name of the charge in some countries is use of the phone when driving.. and that includes carrying it on your lap. It's possible despite the description it's just the description they use

There's a fucking photo of her with it on their lap. That's proof

This is just some wanker playing victim. And, I guarantee they play victim constantly. Can we not act like babies about this and try to protect the weasels?

It's 2026 and most people have Android Auto or car play at this time. It's not like there is any excuse.

It's fair for the one that turned out wrong, but in this case, seems it's correct.

Also, it's some shitty random website, so I guarantee the info is partially wrong too. There is already one correction that it wasn't flock

If it was the police who pulled these people over, they'd be arguing with them too

[–] FudgyMcTubbs@lemmy.world -2 points 18 hours ago (2 children)

The only problem I have is with the camera doing the police work. Like getting a speeding ticket for 26 in a 25 from a speed trap camera -- a cop may or may not pull you over in that instance, because a cop can look at the whole scenario/variables and decide if that extra one mile really was a danger to others.

Yeah, this moron was probably using the phone. And every asshole using their phone at a red light means fewer cars get through that red light because they're too busy looking at their phone to notice that the light has changed or the car in front of them has moved. But let's have a person making this decision to issue a ticket -- a phone at a red light at 3am is much different than a phone at a red light at 515pm.

[–] auzy1@lemmy.world -3 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

Police have better shit to do than mobile phone enforcement

And, in what circumstance should they be speeding? That makes no sense. If there was a valid reason, you can contest the ticket anyway

There sure as fuck is no valid reason for them whatsoever to have their mobile on their lap

[–] Bluescluestoothpaste@sh.itjust.works -4 points 18 hours ago* (last edited 18 hours ago)

Fuck that everyine should instantly have a ticket assesed for going one mph over the speed limit but we're all a bunch of fucking savages who like having vehicular homicide legalized