Kathleen Thomas has gone viral after body camera footage captured a Florida traffic stop in which a deputy accused her of holding a phone in her right hand while driving, despite the fact that she is missing that hand. Thomas was pulled over on Feb. 11 on North Dixie Highway in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, for what the officer described as a distracted driving violation. When she lowered her window and showed that her right hand was absent, the deputy appeared to continue insisting that he had seen a phone in that hand.
The footage shows Thomas calmly questioning the accusation and even laughing at the clear misunderstanding. At one point, the deputy repeated his claim and asked whether she had been using a phone, prompting Thomas to respond by visibly showing her missing hand. She then raised her other hand as the exchange continued. Despite the obvious issue, the officer still requested her driver’s license and insurance information and issued a traffic citation.
The citation, listed at $116, has since been dismissed after the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and/or the deputy requested that it be dropped on Monday, May 25, according to reports. Thomas had planned to challenge the ticket in court. As of now, there has been no public confirmation about whether the deputy involved faced any disciplinary action or whether the incident violated disability rights or other laws.
Thomas later spoke about the experience, saying she handled the matter through the legal process and was relieved it did not escalate further. She also said the encounter raised questions about police training and how officers should respond when interacting with someone who has a disability or limb difference. She said she would like to know what protocols are in place and how such situations can be handled more appropriately for everyone involved.
The video quickly spread online after CBS News posted the body camera footage, drawing more than 113,000 views and thousands of comments within hours. Social media users expressed disbelief that the officer did not acknowledge his mistake sooner and criticized the lack of accountability in the stop. Many viewers also praised Thomas for her calm response and sense of humor during the encounter, especially her “Hand to God” remark, which became a focal point of the online reaction.
The incident has sparked broader discussion about police conduct, disability awareness, and the importance of officers being able to correct mistakes during traffic stops. While Thomas’ citation has been dismissed, the viral footage continues to fuel debate over how law enforcement handles interactions with disabled drivers and whether further consequences should follow for the deputy involved.
