Traffic Camera Captures Woman Driving With Her Phone on Her Lap (Face Down), The State Mailed Her a $1251 'Public Safety' Ticket

3 months ago by spaghettiwestern to c/technology

Cameras sold for stolen vehicle recovery are now generating $1,251 mailed fines for phone use, raising serious legal and privacy concerns.

A woman drives with both hands on the wheel. Her phone sits face-down on her lap. No officer pulls her over. No lights flash. Weeks later, a $1,251 ticket arrives in the mail. The evidence: a single frame from a Camera surveillance app. The charge: phone use while driving.

Automated camera companies market their devices as automated license plate readers — tools for catching stolen cars, flagging warrants, and aiding serious investigations.

Sold as a Crime Tool. Used as a Fine Machine.

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EnsignWashout 227 points 3 months ago

Let's be sure to name and shame, for anyone who missed it: Georgia and Florida.

Company is - you guessed it - Flock. (Mention of Flock in the article has been removed with a correction.)

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pelespirit 68 points 3 months ago

Flock is shit, but apparently not the one who did this. Ig they could be lying?

Flock Safety reached out to us to clarify that our information was wrong. Flock cameras were not involved with the woman driving with her phone story. Alexandra Parade, where the incident took place, is a well traveled coastal highway with systems operated by state revenue programs. We have corrected that and removed any mention of Flock being involved with that story.

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MangoCats 18 points 3 months ago

When I first heard of the amputee story (a bodycam video/audio of the initial encounter) it sounded to me like this was good old-fashioned police work, followed up with a typical harassment citation to send the citizen they didn't like's attitude to court if they wanted a chance to prove that they weren't holding a phone in their amputated hand.

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peopleproblems 14 points 3 months ago

I think people are rightfully referring to mass surveillance system cameras as Flock cameras.

Even if the company folds, the cameras will still be operated. It doesnt matter what the brand is that makes em.

It matters people know what they are.

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Kazumara 8 points 3 months ago

Queensland, Australia.

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acockworkorange 3 points 3 months ago

Two states?

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EnsignWashout 1 point 3 months ago

Washington is mentioned, but not with enough context to determine that Washington uses the cameras.

Which is weird, and other comments mention the whole article may be AI slop, rehashed from somewhere else. :(

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Anonymous_Leaker 1 point 3 months ago
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