The Saskatchewan RCMP says it's safe to collect points at the McDonald's drive-thru — just be careful
A Saskatoon man's ticket for using his cell phone while driving has ignited an online debate about whether it's ok to use your phone in the fast-food drive-thru line or on private property.
The RCMP acknowledged it had received “multiple inquiries” about the story of 18-year-old Mason Prima, who came forward to say he got a cell phone ticket while in the McDonald’s drive-thru in Saskatoon. Prima claims the officer fined him for pulling his phone out when he was just 10 feet from the order board, but the RCMP says its traffic enforcement officer initiated a traffic stop after seeing Prima using his cellphone “on a public roadway," and gave him the ticket after he pulled into the restaurant parking lot.
So, is it safe to use your phone to collect points at the drive-thru window?
The RCMP officer in charge of traffic enforcement in Saskatchewan says yes, as long as you're not stunting or driving without due care and attention.
Superintendent Grant St. Germaine is the head of traffic enforcement for the Saskatchewan RCMP. (Chad Hills / CTV News)
"We don't write cell phone tickets in parking lots," said Supt. Grant St. Germaine.
"There's only a couple of things that we would do. So if you've got a parking lot and somebody's doing donuts in the parking lot, and there's a potential that they're going to kill themselves or somebody else, then we'll get involved. Otherwise, we don't write tickets in parking lots. We don't do enforcement in parking lots."
An RCMP spokesperson also advised CTV News that their traffic services officers — who work alongside local police enforcing traffic laws — aren’t targeting drive-thrus in any organized enforcement.
Mason Prima told CTV News about the moment he was pulled over going through the McDonald’s drive-thru in Saskatoon. (Carla Shynkaruk / CTV News)
Prima still maintains he wasn’t on his phone before getting into the parking lot, and only had it in his hand within steps of the order board.
“I go to that McDonald’s almost every day for lunch. I know that cops sit there all the time.”
He said he plans to fight the ticket in court on July 31.
-With files from Carla Shynkaruk
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is suspected of being the leader of a transnational drug trafficking group that operated in four countries is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the murder of an 'innocent' couple in Ontario in 2023, authorities say.
Ontario school board trustees under fire for $100K religious art purchase on Italy trip
Trustees with an Ontario school board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 trip to Italy, where they purchased more than $100,000 worth of religious statues.
A photographer snorkeled for hours to take this picture
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Tobacco giants would pay out $32.5 billion to provinces, smokers in proposed deal
Three tobacco giants are proposing to pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.
More Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, sources say shuffle expected soon
Federal cabinet ministers Filomena Tassi, Carla Qualtrough and Dan Vandal announced Thursday they will not run for re-election. Senior government sources tell CTV News at least one other, Marie-Claude Bibeau, doesn't plan to run again, setting the stage for Justin Trudeau to shuffle his cabinet in the coming weeks.
Robert Pickton's handwritten book seized after his death in hopes of uncovering new evidence
A handwritten book was seized from B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton's prison cell following his death earlier this year, raising hopes of uncovering new evidence in a series of unprosecuted murders.
Former members of One Direction say they're 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
The former members of English boy band One Direction reacted publicly to the sudden death of their bandmate, Liam Payne, for the first time on Thursday, saying in a joint statement that they're 'completely devastated.'
Israel says it has killed top Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel's most wanted man.
Indian government employee charged in foiled murder-for-hire plot in New York City
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against an Indian government employee in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.