Overview
- A Palm Beach County deputy stopped Kathleen “Katie” Thomas and issued a $116 citation for using a handheld wireless device under Florida law after a February traffic stop.
- The stop happened on Feb. 11, 2026, and body‑worn camera footage shows the deputy telling Thomas she held a phone in her right hand while Thomas raised her right arm to show she does not have a right hand.
- Thomas obtained the bodycam video, posted clips on TikTok and Instagram where they went viral, and pleaded not guilty before preparing for a scheduled May court hearing.
- The deputy and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office requested dismissal of the citation before the May 27 hearing, citing insufficient evidence and a review of the relevant Florida statutes and citation labeling.
- The episode has prompted public discussion about how officers make real‑time observations, the limits of Florida’s wireless‑device law, police training for encounters with people with limb differences, and the amplifying role of bodycam footage and social media.