A claim made by an 18-year-old about being fined $580 for using the McDonald’s app at a drive-thru in Canada has been denied by the police.
Mason Prima stated that he attempted to redeem a free meal using points from the McDonald’s app while at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Saskatoon on Monday. However, he was approached by a motorcycle officer shortly after, as per Canada’s CTV News. Prima expressed surprise at the situation, explaining that he was barely moving and had his phone out to access the app.
Prima, who mentioned having received only one speeding ticket in his two and a half years of driving, asserted that he is cautious about not being distracted while driving and keeps his phone out of reach. He stated, “I open up my app every time I go over to drive-thru and I’ve never had that issue.”
Contrary to Prima’s account, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Saskatchewan stated that the teen had been observed using his cell phone while driving on a public roadway before reaching the drive-thru. According to spokesperson Keely Grasser, the driver was issued a traffic violation upon entering the McDonald’s parking lot for allegedly using his cell phone while driving on a public roadway.
Prima intends to contest the ticket in court, with the hearing scheduled for July 31, as reported by CTV News.
In Saskatchewan, distracted driving fines can amount to $580 and result in four demerit points for a first offense. For subsequent offenses, fines increase to $1,400 and $2,100, accompanied by a seven-day vehicle seizure upon conviction.
Comparatively, in the United States, fines for texting while driving vary from $25 for first-time violations to over $1,000 for subsequent violations, depending on the severity.
