Bodycam Footage Shows Florida Cop Ticketing Woman For Using A Hand She Doesn't Have
Newly released bodycam footage from Florida shows the bizarre moment a police officer ticketed a woman for allegedly using her phone with her right hand while driving, even though she does not have one. The incident happened back in February, but the case has resurfaced after the dashcam footage was made public, and the deputy dismissed the citation before the scheduled court hearing.
Deputy Doubles Down
The incident took place on February 11 in Lake Worth, Florida, when 36-year-old Kathleen Thomas was pulled over by a Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy for distracted driving. According to the deputy, he claimed he saw Thomas holding and using a phone with her right hand while behind the wheel. The problem quickly became obvious once the interaction began, as she showed the deputy her amputated right arm. Bodycam footage shows Thomas calmly explaining several times that she does not have a right hand. Despite the clear misunderstanding, the deputy continued insisting that he saw her using the device while driving.
Citation Issued Despite The Obvious Mistake
Throughout the stop, Thomas remained patient and cooperative, handing over her license, registration, and insurance documents without issue. The deputy then returned to his Ford Mustang GT police car to inspect the paperwork before walking back to Thomas' Volkswagen SUV. Even after seeing her disability firsthand, the deputy still issued Thomas a citation for "wireless communication device handheld while driving." Before leaving, he explained to her how she could fight the ticket in court, without her even asking.
Charges Dropped Before The Court Hearing
Thomas was originally scheduled to appear in court on May 28 to challenge the citation. However, the deputy who issued the ticket requested that the charge be dismissed just three days earlier, on May 25. The case has now officially been dropped, but the bodycam footage has given the incident a second wave of attention online. Many viewers remain stunned that the citation was issued in the first place, making it one of the strangest police encounters seen this year.
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This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 5:33 AM.