A teenager who visited a McDonald’s to collect what he thought was a free meal was stunned when he was fined hundreds of dollars.
Mason Prima, 18, from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in Canada, said CTV News He was stopped while walking through the drive-thru of a local McDonald’s.
‘I barely move. I open my app and look in the rearview mirror and there is a police officer on a motorcycle behind me,” he told the outlet.
He initially didn’t think twice about using the app on his phone while at the window, as he needed to prove he had earned enough reward points for a free meal.
When the officer approached him at the window, Prima said he showed him that he was on the fast food chain’s app and in the process of getting a code. But undeterred, the police officer still fined him $580 ($426).
Mason Prima (pictured) stopped by a McDonald’s drive-thru to redeem what he thought would be a free meal, but left with a fine worth hundreds of dollars.
He initially didn’t think twice about opening the McDonald’s app while at the window, as he needed to show proof that he had earned enough reward points for a free meal.
Prima said he thought the officer would understand and let him continue.
“I thought he was going to let me go because he was just trying to get a free meal, but no, it turns out to be a very expensive lunch,” he said.
He explained that McDonald’s workers ask to see the customer’s app to verify reward points, so they had no choice but to use their phone during the interaction.
“To be honest, I was a little surprised. I’ve never had that before — I open my app every time I go to the drive-thru and I’ve never had that problem,” she said.
But Saskatchewan police stood by their decision to cite Prima.
In a statement to CTV News, a spokesperson said: “The RCMP can confirm that on May 13, 2024, the individual was observed driving a vehicle on a public road while using a cell phone.” ‘
‘A Saskatchewan RCMP officer from Combined Traffic Services initiated a traffic stop with the individual.
“The individual then pulled into the McDonald’s parking lot, where the traffic violation was issued.”
A Canadian criminal defense lawyer, Brian Pfefferle, said cell phone use while driving is prohibited, but whether or not Prima’s cell phone use on the road posed a threat to people around him is a question. that is worth exploring.
‘I feel sorry for the individual who was accused here. “If he was literally in… the vehicle passage area and not on a public road,” he said.
“I would venture to guess that a large majority of people would use their mobile phones in lineups like this and it shouldn’t be considered illegal, but it’s obviously debatable.”
Prima, a novice driver, had previously received a speeding ticket during his two and a half years on the road.
He said he also makes a point of keeping his cell phone out of sight so he can’t use it while driving.
“I didn’t have my foot on the accelerator or the brake. She was just rolling. “I barely move,” Prima said.
In addition to the $580 fine, Prima said he’s most worried about getting points on his license.
The teenager, steadfast in his belief that he is innocent, is now preparing to fight the fine and plead his case in court on July 31.
