Driver given verbal police warning about phone use in drive-thru lineup

Surrey RCMP officer giving a warning to a distracted driver (@DrDangles87/ Twitter)

A video of a Surrey RCMP officer approaching a driver waiting in a McDonald’s drive-thru is serving as a reminder to leave your phone alone — even if you’re just waiting in line for your burger and fries.

#RCMP is actually out here ticketing people for using their phones at a drive thru. Is this a joke? This is harassment. pic.twitter.com/N4i59bS7AP

— Tej Dhaliwal (@DrDangles87) May 8, 2019

The footage has resulted in dozens of comments about how ticketing in drive-thrus is unfair, with many concerned that phones apps are often used to order and pay for meals.

Brutal!
The Police need to use some discretion here and focus on real harmful crimes.

— Alan Kelly (@Alan_B_Happy) May 9, 2019

Surrey has a huge crime problem and a shortage of cops, yet you have time for this little revenue-generating exercise?

— AG Smith (@NvrRong) May 9, 2019

How many use a mobile app or tap pay, what’s the difference grabbing your tap bank card.

— Peter (@Peteisneat) May 9, 2019

That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever seen.

— DunnMan (@DunnMan77) May 8, 2019

Then why do we have phone apps to pay for our food/drinks? Pull up to the window, put in park, turn off the car. Then reach for your phone to pay? Yeah, right.

— Chris (@CANUCKS86) May 9, 2019

Surrey RCMP responded to the video stating that in this case, no ticket was issued. Instead, the officer gave the driver a verbal warning after “observing them using a device while driving prior to entering the drive-thru area. Discretion is used by officers when enforcing this law, with public safety is always being top of mind.”

No ticket was issued. The officer issued a verbal warning to the driver after observing them allegedly using a device while driving prior to entering the drive thru area. Discretion is used by officers when enforcing this law, with public safety always being top of mind.

— Surrey RCMP (@SurreyRCMP) May 9, 2019

Although the driver was warned for using his phone prior to entering the drive-thru, Surrey RCMP says that under the BC Motor Vehicle Act, parking lots and drive-thrus are “considered part of the roadway, and are subject to enforcement of the BC Motor Vehicle Act which prohibits the use of electronic devices while driving.”

Under the BC Motor Vehicle Act, parking lots and drive thrus are considered part of the road way, and are subject to enforcement of the BC Motor Vehicle Act which prohibits the use of electronic devices while driving.

— Surrey RCMP (@SurreyRCMP) May 9, 2019

Surrey RCMP told Daily Hive that they do not conduct distracted driver operations in drive-thrus.

But if you’ve been using your phone right before rolling in to pick up that burger, you definitely could be stopped and fined.