Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/McDonald's
It doesn't matter where you live, as traffic regulations over smartphone use are almost the same in every country. You're not allowed to use your mobile device while driving. Do it, and you'll get a ticket.
18-year-old Mason Prima learned this the hard way, albeit his case is a bit different and is already causing controversy in Canada.
The man was driving his car earlier this month when he decided to stop at a McDonald's restaurant to redeem a free meal from the drive-through. He entered the drive-through and opened the mobile app to load the voucher – McDonald's offers a mobile companion app that includes access to offers, free meals, and various companies; customers must show codes generated by the app to be eligible for the offers.
Prima says he unlocked his mobile device, as the car was "barely even moving" in the drive-through lane at the local McDonald's. He describes the vehicle as "rolling" when a police officer pulled him over.
He believed the motorcycle police officer would understand he looked at the mobile phone specifically to use his coupons in the McDonald's app, but it all ended up becoming a very expensive order. The officer issued a $425 ticket, which the driver is ready to fight in court, as he believes that getting a fine when you barely move in a fast-food line is not right.
However, the police say this isn't exactly what happened. A statement issued by the Saskatchewan RCMP to the local media reveals that the traffic violation took place before the driver entered the drive-through lane at McDonald's. Police claim the driver was spotted "driving a vehicle on a public roadway while using a cellphone," so the motorcycle officer initiated a traffic stop. The car pulled into the McDonald's drive-through lane with the officer right behind it. Because he reduced speed in the fast-food lane, the officer came to the driver's window and asked for documents to issue the traffic violation.
According to the police, the driver was spotted using this mobile phone before entering the drive-through lane, but this is where the officer issued the fine. The driver claims otherwise, as he says he was fined for using the mobile phone in the drive-through lane.
There's a major controversy here, as using the mobile phone while "rolling," as the 18-year-old driver puts it, is something that most drivers do when pulling into the drive-through lane at fast-food restaurants. Mobile companion apps have become extremely popular, and presenting coupons for free meals and discounts is necessary when pulling up.
The car will move to court, and we'll find out in July if the judge sides with the driver or decides that the hefty fine should stay in place.
The man was driving his car earlier this month when he decided to stop at a McDonald's restaurant to redeem a free meal from the drive-through. He entered the drive-through and opened the mobile app to load the voucher – McDonald's offers a mobile companion app that includes access to offers, free meals, and various companies; customers must show codes generated by the app to be eligible for the offers.
Prima says he unlocked his mobile device, as the car was "barely even moving" in the drive-through lane at the local McDonald's. He describes the vehicle as "rolling" when a police officer pulled him over.
He believed the motorcycle police officer would understand he looked at the mobile phone specifically to use his coupons in the McDonald's app, but it all ended up becoming a very expensive order. The officer issued a $425 ticket, which the driver is ready to fight in court, as he believes that getting a fine when you barely move in a fast-food line is not right.
However, the police say this isn't exactly what happened. A statement issued by the Saskatchewan RCMP to the local media reveals that the traffic violation took place before the driver entered the drive-through lane at McDonald's. Police claim the driver was spotted "driving a vehicle on a public roadway while using a cellphone," so the motorcycle officer initiated a traffic stop. The car pulled into the McDonald's drive-through lane with the officer right behind it. Because he reduced speed in the fast-food lane, the officer came to the driver's window and asked for documents to issue the traffic violation.
According to the police, the driver was spotted using this mobile phone before entering the drive-through lane, but this is where the officer issued the fine. The driver claims otherwise, as he says he was fined for using the mobile phone in the drive-through lane.
There's a major controversy here, as using the mobile phone while "rolling," as the 18-year-old driver puts it, is something that most drivers do when pulling into the drive-through lane at fast-food restaurants. Mobile companion apps have become extremely popular, and presenting coupons for free meals and discounts is necessary when pulling up.
The car will move to court, and we'll find out in July if the judge sides with the driver or decides that the hefty fine should stay in place.
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