Body‑camera video shows Palm Beach deputy ticket woman who has no right hand; $116 citation later dismissed
Body‑camera footage from Lake Worth Beach shows a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy ticket Kathleen “Katie” Thomas after claiming she held a phone with a right hand she does not have; the $116 citation was later dismissed.
- Who: Driver Kathleen “Katie” Thomas, a 36‑year‑old adaptive athlete and influencer, and an unnamed Palm Beach County deputy (see CBS12 report).
- When & where: Feb. 11 stop on North Dixie Highway in Lake Worth Beach during a PBSO distracted‑driving operation (Video).
- Outcome: Deputy issued a $116 citation for handheld wireless device; citation was later dismissed at the officer’s request for lack of evidence.
- Issues raised: Questions about probable cause, disability awareness, citation‑software labeling and how statutes are applied during stops.
The stop as captured on body camera
Released body‑camera footage shows the traffic stop in real time. The deputy told Thomas he pulled her over because she “drove past me holding the phone with your right hand, manipulating that phone.” Thomas did not argue; she raised her right arm to show it ends at the forearm and said, “So you want to just call this a day or…?”
Deputy: “I don’t want to call it a day. You had a hand up manipulating…”
Deputy (later): “Hand to God, you did not have your phone in your hand?”
Thomas: “Hand to God.”
The exchange includes the now‑viral “Hand to God” moment, when Thomas twice swore she did not hold a phone. Multiple uploads of the encounter are publicly available (Video, Video, Video, Video).
Why the ticket was dismissed
Thomas was cited for Wireless Comm. Device/Handheld While Driving – First Offense with a $116 fine. Court records show the citation was dismissed after the deputy moved to dismiss, citing lack of evidence. A hearing was scheduled and later canceled following the officer’s dismissal request; Thomas announced the outcome on social media.
PBSO’s explanation and legal framing
PBSO spokesperson Teri Barbera told reporters the stop started from a real‑time visual observation. After review — including the relevant Florida statutes and the department’s citation‑software labels — the decision was made to dismiss the ticket. Barbera noted deputies make split‑second calls and reminded that motorists may contest citations in court.
The office did not announce disciplinary action against the deputy in available reports. PBSO framed the dismissal as resulting from a review of the totality of circumstances and statute coding.
Legal and procedural questions raised
Legal experts and disability advocates flagged multiple concerns:
- Probable cause: Critics ask why the deputy pressed the allegation after seeing Thomas’ limb difference.
- Statutory nuance: Florida Statute 316.305 (texting/wireless communications) and 316.306 (handheld bans in school/work zones) differ; local attorneys said how citations are labeled in software contributed to ambiguity.
- Evidence standards: The dismissal cited “lack of evidence,” underscoring how on‑scene observations and later review can lead to different outcomes.
Viral reaction and broader debate
Thomas posted clip excerpts to TikTok; national outlets replayed body‑cam footage, framing the episode as awkward and embarrassing for the officer. Social media critics questioned why an officer would continue to accuse a driver after visibly seeing she had no right hand. The incident renewed discussion about how officers interact with people with disabilities and whether training covers visible limb differences.
About the driver and the deputy
Kathleen “Katie” Thomas publicly identifies as an adaptive athlete who posts on social media; she said she could not “make up the reason” cited when the case was dismissed and has discussed the stop’s implications for others with disabilities. The deputy has not been named publicly; PBSO’s public comments were limited to Barbera’s written statement.
Implications for Fresno, California
Although this occurred in Florida, the episode offers actionable lessons for Fresno law enforcement and community leaders:
- Training & disability awareness: Agencies should review training so officers recognize visible disabilities and adapt engagement strategies accordingly.
- Citation software labels: Audit how citation systems map statutes to ticket line items to prevent coding errors and ambiguity.
- Body‑camera transparency: Continue using body cams for oversight, and prepare public explanations that contextualize officer observations and probable cause decisions.
- Public education: Clarify distracted‑driving rules by zone so drivers and officers understand when behavior constitutes an offense.
- Community engagement: Disability advocates and police leadership can convene to create practical tools — checklists, plain‑language scripts and joint trainings — to reduce misunderstandings.
Sources and further reading
- CBS12 report on the stop and dismissal
- Video: JTsbz68c7-I
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Reporting note: The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office provided a written statement attributing the dismissal to a review of statutes and citation labels. The deputy who issued the citation has not been named in the public record reviewed for this article.
