A woman drives with both hands on the wheel. Her phone sits face-down on her lap. No officer pulls her over. No lights flash. Weeks later, a $1,251 ticket arrives in the mail. The evidence: a single frame from a Camera surveillance app. The charge: phone use while driving.

Automated camera companies market their devices as automated license plate readers — tools for catching stolen cars, flagging warrants, and aiding serious investigations.

Sold as a Crime Tool. Used as a Fine Machine.

  • jali67@lemmy.zip
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    20 hours ago

    It wasn’t even in her hands or at the very least distracting her and they still send a ticket? Lmao

    • FearMeAndDecay@literature.cafe
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      17 hours ago

      I misread this at first and thought her head was down looking at her phone and I was like, “yeah she deserves a ticket but that doesn’t make the surveillance state good” but you’re right: she wasn’t even looking at her phone! This is fucking dystopian

    • Appoxo@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      16 hours ago

      The moments I had my phone, face down and on my lap or between my legs, were the moments I had used it on traffic while at a stop light and had to go before I was done.

      I see this as a valid charge.
      The amount is a little bit extreme but still valid.
      I would be mad af but couldnt argue against it.