LAKE WORTH, Fla. (CBS News) \u2013 \u2014 A Florida woman cited for holding a phone in her right hand \u2014 a hand she was born without \u2014 had her citation dismissed, court records show.<\/p>\n
Body camera footage from the Palm Beach County Sheriff\u2019s Office shows Katie Thomas laughing when a deputy pulled her over in February. The deputy claimed he saw her driving with a device in her right hand. Thomas showed him she had no right hand, but he remained skeptical.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou did not have a phone in your hand?\u201d the deputy asked. \u201cI did not,\u201d Thomas replied. \u201cHand to god?\u201d he pressed. \u201cHand to god,\u201d she answered.<\/p>\n
Citation issued despite the evidence<\/p>\n
Despite the exchange, the deputy still issued Thomas a $116 citation for violating Florida\u2019s wireless communications while driving law and told her she could dispute it.<\/p>\n
Thomas said she relies on humor to navigate situations like these. But the stop also sparked a broader conversation about disability awareness.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I would love people to take away is that limb difference is normal,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cSomebody who looks different than you is normal. All of that is normal. Normal is whoever you\u2019re most comfortable being.\u201d<\/p>\n
Citation dropped ahead of scheduled hearing<\/p>\n
A hearing had been scheduled for Wednesday. Court records show the citation was dismissed at the request of the deputy who issued it.<\/p>\n
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