That's bullshit. Seeing a phone in your hand at a stoplight? What is illegal or dangerous about that that a cop would feel the need to make a stop? I could see if you were talking on it or looking at it instead of the road while your car was moving, but just having it in your hand is dumb. Must have been a slow day for crime in Michigan; I can only imagine the more important calls he missed while writing you a ticket and cutting you a $20 break over absolutely nothing. And as to that $20 break, a couple of decades ago, I got a much deserved speeding ticket for doing +100mph on the highway; I pulled over before the cop I flew by even turned on his lights, and admitted guilt without arguing, so he cut me a break by not writing me a reckless endangerment fine, and my ticket was about $180; you paid the same for holding your phone at a stoplight? Inflation is a b*tch, I guess.I got pulled over earlier this week. The officer claimed, I had my the phone in my right hand while driving. While true, I wasn't looking at it, I was just trying to put it in its charger, and I was at a stoplight anyway. I chose not to fight it because I had too much going on this week. He did me a "favor" by making it less than $200. He charged me $180. The only good thing out of this is that no points go on my record, because my driving record is so great to begin with.
Michigan enacted a new phone law all the way back in 2021. Various counties and districts in michigan barely ever upholded, or only do it to fill a quota. Safety important, but most cops in my area aren't gonna pull you over unless they physically see you have your phone in your hand with the window open. I did pave the bill earlier this week.So I wouldn't have to worry about it later.
That cop must have x ray or something, because he wouldn't have known otherwise. It wouldn't surprise me if they have devices like that now.
In that vein, I've recent learned it's apparently a stoppable offense to eat or drink (like soda or coffee) while driving. WTF? Why do cars have cupholders then?? Why do truck stops sell French fry holders for truckers? Why are phone holders used by basically every Uber driver since forever not considered "distracted driving paraphernalia?"