By MES Dispatch staff
The Briefing
• A Florida sheriff’s deputy cited a driver for holding a cellphone, but body-worn camera footage later showed she did not have the phone in her hand, authorities said.
• The incident occurred during a traffic stop in Hernando County when the deputy observed what he believed was a violation of the handheld device law.
• Body-camera video released by the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office revealed the phone was resting on the center console, not in the driver’s hand.
• The citation was voided after supervisors reviewed the footage, and the Sheriff’s Office said training will be reinforced.
HERNANDO COUNTY, FL — A Hernando County sheriff’s deputy cited a motorist for unlawfully holding a cellphone while driving, but body-worn camera footage later showed the driver did not have the phone in her hand, authorities said.
The traffic stop took place when the deputy observed what he believed was a violation of Florida’s law against holding a wireless device while driving and initiated a citation, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.
Video released by the department shows the phone resting on the vehicle’s center console rather than in the driver’s hand at the time of contact, prompting supervisors to void the citation after reviewing the footage.
The sheriff’s office said it intends to reiterate training on observation standards and proper enforcement of the handheld device law to ensure accuracy during future stops.