Woman Born Without Right Arm Ticked for Holding Phone
LAKE WORTH, FL – February 2025 – A traffic stop in Palm Beach County has sparked a national conversation about police training and disability awareness after a 36-year-old woman born without a lower right arm was cited for holding a phone—with the arm she doesn't have.
The Incident
Kathleen Thomas was pulled over by a Palm Beach County Sheriff's deputy who claimed he saw her holding a phone in her right hand. Thomas was born without a lower right arm; her right arm stops at the elbow.
Bodycam footage released by Thomas shows the moment of confusion. After Thomas raised her right limb, the deputy instructed her to raise her left hand instead. Despite the obvious impossibility of the alleged violation, the deputy issued a citation.
"The traffic stop was based on the deputy's visual observation."
— Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
The Aftermath
Thomas obtained the bodycam footage and posted it on social media, where it accumulated millions of views. She was scheduled to appear in court on March 19, 2025, to contest the ticket. However, on March 17, 2025—just two days before her court date—the deputy requested the citation be dismissed.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office later stated the ticket was dismissed after a review of state statutes and "the totality of the circumstances, specifically the lack of clarity on how violations are labeled in our citation software." The department affirmed its commitment to professionalism and lawful enforcement.
Thomas's Response
Speaking publicly after the dismissal, Thomas said she believes the deputy did not act with malice but rather lacked training for situations involving limb differences. She expressed hope that the incident would raise awareness about limb differences and improve police training.
Thomas also shared a personal request: she said she would like to understand the deputy's perspective on why the interaction escalated.