Tim Hortons drive-thru texting ticket of $287 well deserved, police say

Adriver ticketed $287for textingat aTim Hortonsdrive-thruin Beaumont, Alta.,was on his smartphoneeven before he got into line, police say.

A.J. Daoust, a carpenter,was in thedrive-thrulast Thursday morningwhen he was issued the ticket for distracted driving. Hecalled the ticket "heavy-handed" and "ridiculous."

• Tim Horton drive-thru text nets $287 fine

But police saythere's more to the story.

BeaumontRCMPCpl.Tim Dunlapdid notissuethe ticket, but spoke with the officer who did and reviewedhis notes on the incident.

"The officer actually saw the guy texting before he got to the drive-thru... which just happenedto be where the interaction happened," he said.

Oncein the drive-thru, Daoust wastexting with both handsand steeringwith his knees when forced to move forward, Dunlap said.

"Other drivers are looking at him andlooking at the officer, looking back at him, throwing their hands up like, 'Don't you see this? Why aren't you doing something?'"

So the officer approachedDaoust'svehicle.

"The gentleman was not very nice, everything from namecalling to actually giving him the middle finger," Dunlap said.

"The officer said, 'You know what? I'm not going to give you a break now.'"

On Monday, Daoustsaid he would be attending his Jan. 6court date to dispute the ticket,but is not optimistic about getting the fine reduced.

Provincial laws prohibitdrivers from using hand-held cellphones, texting or emailing while behind the wheel. It applies to any road,highway or thoroughfare, whether publicly or privately owned.