Woman fined for distracted driving after police claim she used phone with right hand she does not have

An influencer has spoken out after a traffic fine was dropped when police alleged she was using a phone with a hand she does not have.

Katie, a US-based content creator who posts under the name Slightlyoff.balance, has gone viral after being issued with a distracted driving infringement earlier this year.

She was pulled over on February 11 and accused of holding a mobile phone in her “right hand” while driving, despite not having a right hand.

She was issued with a $116 ($AU162) fine for using a handheld device while behind the wheel.

Days later, Katie shared a video recounting the incident on TikTok, where it quickly gained traction. In the clip, she questioned how she could have been holding a phone in her right hand, pointing out her limb difference.

Social media users encouraged her to challenge the infringement, and she documented the process over several months. She pleaded not guilty when the matter first went before court in April, with a further hearing scheduled for late May.

Ahead of that appearance, Katie obtained and shared body-camera footage from the traffic stop.

In the video, the officer tells her she was pulled over for using her phone. Katie responds by raising her right arm and saying, “Obviously not,” before laughing and asking the officer, “should we should just call it a day?”

The officer doubled-down, insisting he saw her holding a device and continues questioning her about phone use while driving. He then asks her to swear an oath, to which she raises her arm without the hand saying “swear to god”.

Despite the exchange, the officer proceeds to issue the infringement.

However, just days before the scheduled hearing, the deputy requested the fine be withdrawn. It was formally dismissed due to a “lack of evidence”, according to local media reports.

Katie confirmed the outcome on social media, telling followers the matter had been resolved.