Woman Without Right Hand Pulled Over for Allegedly Holding Phone

In February, a traffic enforcement incident occurred in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, involving a 36-year-old woman named Kathleen Thomas. A sheriff’s deputy stopped her vehicle, claiming she was holding her cellphone in her right hand. However, as the situation unfolded, it became clear that a mistake had been made.

Ms. Thomas, who has no right hand, showed the deputy her right arm, confirming there was no phone. This unusual encounter was captured on body camera footage, which Ms. Thomas later shared on social media. The footage quickly gained attention, highlighting the errors made during the traffic stop.

The deputy, whose name remains undisclosed, insisted he saw a phone despite the evidence to the contrary. During the exchange, Ms. Thomas humorously asked if they could end the matter. The deputy still contested reality, even asking her about the phone once more.

As the case progressed, the deputy requested the citation be dismissed due to lack of evidence, according to court records. After a scheduled court appearance, Ms. Thomas posted an online video to update her followers about the case’s dismissal.

Ms. Thomas is an adaptive athlete and shared her unique situation with CBS, mentioning her hope that the officer would reflect on and learn from the interaction. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office is currently reviewing the deputy’s actions during the incident.

Teri Barbera, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s department, stated that motorists have the right to contest citations in court, where full evaluation of facts and evidence occurs. There was no further explanation provided for the traffic stop.