931
Traffic Camera Captures Woman Driving With Her Phone on Her Lap (Face Down), The State Mailed Her a $1251 'Public Safety' Ticket (www.gadgetreview.com)
submitted 1 month ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
273 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

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.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 226 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (4 children)

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.)

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 8 child comments
    •
  • [–] 68 points 1 month ago (2 children)

    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.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 4 child comments
    •
  • [–] 18 points 1 month 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.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • [–] 14 points 1 month 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.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent