One‑handed driver’s traffic stop goes viral, ticket dismissed

A Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy stopped a driver after claiming he saw her holding a phone in her right hand, even though she was born without a lower right arm. The encounter, captured on body‑camera video, quickly spread on TikTok and Instagram, amassing millions of views, and the citation issued to the driver was later dismissed [1].

Key takeaways

• The driver, Kathleen Thomas, was pulled over in Lake Worth in February for an alleged phone‑in‑hand violation [1].
• Thomas raised her missing right arm, showing she has no lower right limb, and the deputy persisted with the accusation [1].
• A $116 citation was issued but the deputy requested dismissal, citing insufficient evidence; the court granted the request [1][2].
• The video went viral, with more than 23 million views on TikTok and widespread media coverage [1][2].
• Thomas appeared on “CBS Mornings” to discuss the incident and advocate for normalizing limb differences [1].

Viral video reveals a confusing traffic stop

The body‑camera footage shows Deputy — whose name was not released — approaching Thomas’s vehicle and stating he observed her “holding a cellphone in your right hand.” Thomas responded by lifting her right arm, which ends at the elbow, and laughing, “Obviously not.” The deputy repeated his claim, asking her to “hand to God,” to which Thomas again raised the same arm [1]. Despite the clear visual evidence, the deputy continued to press the issue, asking her to raise her left hand instead. Thomas later said she felt uncomfortable and believed the deputy was not trained for interactions with people who have limb differences [1].

After the stop, Thomas received a $116 citation for the alleged violation. She posted the body‑camera video on TikTok, where it quickly amassed over 23 million views, and later appeared on “CBS Mornings” to share her perspective. The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said the stop was based on the deputy’s visual observation, but later acknowledged the citation was dismissed after a review of the laws and “lack of clarity on how violations are labeled in our citation software” [1]. Court records confirm the deputy requested dismissal on the grounds of “insufficient evidence,” and the request was granted the following day [2].

Why it matters

The incident highlights challenges law‑enforcement officers may face when encountering drivers with disabilities, and it raises questions about training and citation protocols. The viral spread of the video has sparked broader conversations about normalizing limb differences and ensuring respectful interactions during traffic stops. As the case proceeds through the court system, the dismissal of the citation underscores the importance of clear evidence and appropriate procedural guidelines in traffic enforcement.