Hello all,
I received a ticket for distracted driving in Edmonton and the fine is $287.
What had happened: phone was being used as a gps device fixed in place to the bottom of my dash. My girlfriend had accidentally knocked it out of place and I had to reach down to get it. In order to prevent myself from taking my eyes off the road and look down to search for it I had asked my girlfriend to reach over and look down for it. She found it, handed it to me and I put in back on the dash.
Cop claims to have seen me using it even though he was behind me and I have all my rear windows tinted so I already didn't understand that part. He was pretty abusive throughout the whole thing saying things to my girlfriend like "what the f--k are you doing leaning over to his side" and when we explained what had happened he was having none of it. He then lectured my girlfriend on wearing a seatbelt properly even though she just put it under her arm AFTER we were pulled over.
This criteria is from the Edmonton Police Service:
While driving, it is illegal to:
Use a hand-held phone while talking, texting and/or e-mailing
Operate electronic devices like video players and laptops
Manually program GPS units or portable audio players
Read or write
Engage in personal grooming
I did not use the hand held to talk/text/email nor did I operate it/manually program it. I was merely placing it back on the dash to use as a gps as I am not familiar with Edmonton roads.
Do I have a case if I take this to court?