Driver's Limb Difference Thwarts "Hand to God" Phone Ticket

Kathleen Thomas, an adaptive athlete known online as Katie, recently saw her viral traffic citation dismissed two months after it was issued. She was stopped by an officer who accused her of using her phone while driving, a charge she contested due to not having a right hand.

The "Wireless Comm. Device/Handheld While Driving" citation, issued on February 11, was dismissed on May 26, with the officer requesting the dismissal for insufficient evidence. This incident gained widespread attention online, even catching the eye of a Dairy Queen location in Greenacres, Florida.

Dairy Queen gifted Katie a cake that read "hand to God," a phrase the officer used during the stop and which Katie had referenced. This viral moment has also led to Katie launching a webstore selling "hand to God" merchandise. A portion of the proceeds from these sales will be donated to Shriners Children's Hospital, transforming the attention into a charitable endeavor.

Katie expressed that the viral video has created significant positive impact, fostering conversations about limb difference and driving donations. The Palm Beach Sheriff's Office stated that officers must make decisions based on real-time observations, and motorists have the right to contest citations through the judicial process.