Gen Z Woman Issues Warning Against Using Phone in Car at Red Light

Emily Rundle, a 24-year-old from Ontario, Canada, had a costly encounter with the law while driving in London. Rundle was issued a CA$615 fine by police—which roughly equates to $449—for using her phone to change a song at a red traffic light.

The "first time offender" has sparked a flurry of comments on social media about distracted driving laws, after talking about the incident on TikTok last week. Shared on April 19 to her account @emilyyrundle, Rundle's video has already amassed over 1 million views.

"I was changing a song at a red light on my phone, because I wanted a specific song, and obviously I know you can't be on your phone when your car is in drive," Rundle said.

"But I was at a red light and I knew it would take two seconds so I did it OK. I got pulled over, OK. The cop pulled me over and he said, 'Give me your license, I saw you on your phone.'"

The situation quickly escalated when the officer returned with a hefty CA$615 ticket, without giving Rundle a chance to explain herself.

"I didn't get a chance to plead my case. He comes back with a ticket for $615, OK. I wasn't gonna fight it. I paid the ticket including a three-dollar processing fee," she added.

However, the ordeal didn't end there. Rundle later received a letter informing her that her license had been suspended—a harsh penalty for a first-time offender, which she confirmed in the video.

Rundle told Newsweek the incident and why she felt compelled to warn others against inviting the same consequence by succumbing to a quick phone swipe.

"The video I made regarding my ticket from the police was filmed as if I was FaceTiming my friends," Rundle said.

"I wanted it to feel like I was talking to someone I know, as that's when I'm the most comfortable speaking to a camera!

"That being said, I love making videos and have been the friend that records everything since I was 10. I just think it's fun to document life stories so you can look back on it in 10 years and be, like, 'Wow, that was the biggest thing going on in my life then. How times have changed!' While my platform on TikTok is minuscule, I still like posting videos. It's fun for me," Rundle added.

The 24-year-old went on to say that she is particularly distressed by the ticket because she works both a full-time role and a part-time job to get by. She describes the Canadian economy as being "brutal".

"It's always exciting when a video goes viral; it's crazy to hear all of the opinions out there, whether good or bad, and hear similar stories people have experienced," Rundle said.

The response from viewers has been impassioned, with many urging Rundle to contest the fine and suspension.

"My husband is a cop, girl fight this. If you went to court and plead your case they likely would have dropped your ticket cost A LOT," one user commented.

Another posted: "Always fight it, they will 99 percent of the time drop it or lower the fine."

Ontario's government says that it is against the law to use hand-held communication, such as a cell phone, and electronic entertainment devices while driving.

In fact, simply holding a phone or other device while driving is against the law, and a first conviction could land a first-time offender like Rundle a fine of CA$615, if settled out of court.

Rundle's story serves as a cautionary tale and a reminder of the potential consequences of using a phone while driving. The punishment is intended to keep the roads safer but sometimes leads to severe penalties for infractions that many interpret as being minor.

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