If you can’t refrain doing stupid or illegal things, here’s a thought: don’t film yourself doing them and then post the video to social media.
One mother from North Yorkshire, U.K., was sentenced to suspended jail time, unpaid work, a fine and got a driving ban nearly 2 years after she filmed her son dancing in the passenger seat, while she was driving the car. She was arrested after she posted the video to Facebook, the Daily Mail says.
The British publication also has the video, if you’re interested. The boy, who doesn’t seem to be older than 4, is not in a proper carseat but is wearing the adult seatbelt. His “moves” consist of small jerks of the arms and legs: toddlers aren’t exactly known for their coordination and swift moves.
Still, Kerry White, 35, thought hers had the moves to wow Facebook, so she posted the video there. In doing so, she was oblivious to the fact that what she was doing was illegal: she was using a cellphone while driving and endangering the welfare of a child. One of the people who saw the video called the cops on her and she was arrested.
This happened in December 2017 and, almost 2 years later, she will pay for her crime and recklessness. The Mail says she initially pleaded not guilty but changed her mind right before trial. The trial ended the other day, with White being given “a 12-month ban and sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. She was also required to complete 20 days unpaid work and told she must pay a £115 victim surcharge.”
Police hope all parents will refrain from using their phones to record their little ones when at the wheel, and that members of the public will always come forward when they see situations like this.
“As the footage clearly shows, Miss White's driving that day was highly irresponsible and incredibly dangerous,” traffic constable Mark Patterson, from North Yorkshire Police, tells the publication.
“It's only through sheer luck she wasn't involved in a serious collision. Her blatant disregard for the safety of the child and traffic laws could have ended tragically and the consequences of her actions had she of lost control of her vehicle doesn't bear thinking about.”
The British publication also has the video, if you’re interested. The boy, who doesn’t seem to be older than 4, is not in a proper carseat but is wearing the adult seatbelt. His “moves” consist of small jerks of the arms and legs: toddlers aren’t exactly known for their coordination and swift moves.
Still, Kerry White, 35, thought hers had the moves to wow Facebook, so she posted the video there. In doing so, she was oblivious to the fact that what she was doing was illegal: she was using a cellphone while driving and endangering the welfare of a child. One of the people who saw the video called the cops on her and she was arrested.
This happened in December 2017 and, almost 2 years later, she will pay for her crime and recklessness. The Mail says she initially pleaded not guilty but changed her mind right before trial. The trial ended the other day, with White being given “a 12-month ban and sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for 12 months. She was also required to complete 20 days unpaid work and told she must pay a £115 victim surcharge.”
Police hope all parents will refrain from using their phones to record their little ones when at the wheel, and that members of the public will always come forward when they see situations like this.
“As the footage clearly shows, Miss White's driving that day was highly irresponsible and incredibly dangerous,” traffic constable Mark Patterson, from North Yorkshire Police, tells the publication.
“It's only through sheer luck she wasn't involved in a serious collision. Her blatant disregard for the safety of the child and traffic laws could have ended tragically and the consequences of her actions had she of lost control of her vehicle doesn't bear thinking about.”