A Palm Beach County traffic stop caught on a deputy's body camera has blown up online after the deputy insisted a driver was holding a phone in her “right hand,” even though she does not have one. The driver, 36-year-old adaptive athlete Kathleen “Katie” Thomas, later shared the footage, and the citation was ultimately tossed at the deputy's request ahead of a scheduled hearing.
As first reported by KTLA, the stop happened on Feb. 11 along North Dixie Highway in Lake Worth Beach. The sheriff's office bodycam clip that Thomas posted to Instagram and TikTok has drawn more than 77 million views, according to that coverage.
Bodycam Captures Awkward Back-and-Forth
In the video, the deputy tells Thomas, “You drove past me holding a phone with your right hand, manipulating that phone,” prompting her to lift her right arm, which ends in a stump, and reply, “Obviously not.” The deputy then twice presses her to swear “hand to God” that she was not on her phone, an exchange caught start to finish on camera and reviewed in coverage by AZFamily/CNN.
Ticket Filed, Then Quietly Dismissed
Thomas was cited for “Wireless Comm. Device/Handheld While Driving – First Offense” and entered a not-guilty plea. Court records show the same deputy who wrote the ticket asked the court to dismiss the case for “lack of evidence” the day before her May 27 hearing. The Independent reports the citation carried a $116 civil penalty.
What Florida's Phone Law Says
Florida's Wireless Communications While Driving law, section 316.305, prohibits drivers from manually typing or entering characters into a device while operating a vehicle and limits handheld phone use in school and active work zones. The state Department of Highway Safety details the statute's carveouts and penalties, including stiffer fines and points for violations in those zones, according to FLHSMV.
Viral Clip Fuels Big Questions
Thomas, who posts as @slightlyoff.balance and shares her life as an adaptive athlete, said the stop highlights how officers interact with people who have limb differences and urged clearer protocols. Online, viewers called for everything from an apology to a broader rethink of how distracted driving laws are enforced, reactions compiled by outlets including Dexerto.
Whether the tossed ticket will lead to an internal review or retraining has not been disclosed; The Independent reported it had reached out to both Thomas and the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office for comment. For now, the incident is serving as a reminder that body-worn cameras can spotlight mistakes, but only when the footage makes it out into public view.
