Canadian man ticketed while texting in drive-through lane

BEAUMONT, Alberta, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- A Canadian motorist said a police officer was "heavy-handed" in giving him a ticket for more than $200 when he was caught texting in a fast food drive-through.

A.J. Daoust told CTV News he believes it was "ridiculous" and "heavy-handed" for an officer in Beaumont, Alberta, to issue him a $212 -- $287 Canadian -- distracted driving ticket while he was waiting in line at a Tim Horton's drive-through.

However, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Cpl. Tim Dunlap defended the ticket after speaking with the officer and reviewing his reports.

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

Dunlap said Daoust was using both hands to text and steering with his knees while in the drive-through lane.

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

He said Daoust was uncooperative.

"The gentleman was not very nice, everything from name calling 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.'" 

Daoust said he plans to contest the ticket in court Jan. 6.