On phone in stationary traffic

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NC for this. I'm wondering if any legal folk have advice or whether you all think IABU.

A few weeks ago I was stopped at traffic lights for some time in standstill traffic so I briefly picked up my phone to look at a message that had come through. I was on my own with my baby in the back. Suddenly I was aware of something to my right and when I turned, there was a man in a high vis jacket on a bicycle, stopped right next to my door, and bending down to stare at me through my window. He didn't engage, just stared straight at me for what felt like an age. His position meant that I couldn't get out of the car and it felt very intimidating. I didn't know what his intentions were, or what he'd do next.

He then cycled off ahead and stopped by the windows of one or two other drivers and did the same thing. I felt quite shaken by the experience.

I later learned that he either reported me or was an undercover policeman as he had filmed me on my phone with his helmet camera.

I have now received 6 points and a £200 fine. I accept that the law states that checking your phone including when stationary is an offence so I am not disputing that there should be a consequence.

However, I can't help but feel that 6 points is a disproportionate punishment given that I was stationary and not actually causing risk. If I was moving it would be a different matter but I was not driving without due care and attention, i was stationary with the break on.

Secondly, the method of capturing this footage - a man staring into a woman's car, on her own with a baby, and instilling fear and blocking her in surely is not acceptable?

Can I challenge any of this?

What? He sounds like a traffic cop doing his job.
Just because the OP thinks being an overly dramatic lone woman with a baby in a car is some sort of exemption from breaking the law doesn't make this cop a prick.

I do. I think looking for something in your handbag at the lights isn’t something you should be doing either.

YABU , just pay up and leave your phone in the back of the car in future , I also don’t see how it’s scary to be stared at by a cyclist when you are in a big metal box that you can lock the doors on .

As well as not paying attention to lights etc. There is also the possibility that a text message could contain bad news and make someone upset and or angry.

They should also know it comes with the risk of a fine and points deduction and not whine if they get caught.

I think that is different to a phone though. I have rummaged through a bag at lights, but I was using my hand to feel for things. I was not looking into my bag.

You can't use your phone without looking at it.

Seems like OP has realised she doesn't need to obsessively check her phone, after all.

No you can't challenge it. You broke the law, which is quite clear.

You really just need to apply some common sense, surely? Read the anxious generation for a start. Phones are inherently addictive and distracting, they are designed that way. People aren't addicted to looking at their handbags. But I agree with you, that eating, putting on make up, having your dog in your lap etc are all examples of stupid people and dangerous driving. I once saw someone driving reading an actual book! Wtf!!

There is a proportion of women on MN who seem to say, anytime they are caught breaking the law by a policeman that they "felt" intimidated because the policeman was male.

He was doing his job.

Feel how you like, but this man was doing his job a prescribed. Cyclists of either gender could be stopped beside you in traffic. He didnt make any motion to suggest he was attempting to entre your vehicle. He behaved the same with multiple vehicles. And presumably there will be video footage.

You were in a car, engine running, in traffic touching your phone. You were guilty. Pay the fine and let it go.

Unless you were stationary, engine off (if EV then it’s in park mode) handbrake on and in park mode then it is not illegal then you can use your handheld device otherwise do hands free.

Just wish they would clamp down on delivery drivers who can’t seem to travel in a straight line because they under so
much from their compaines
to deliver 500 parcels a minute so they end up driving with poor focus and attention whilst messing around with their phones. The average Joe on the road is less likely to do so.

I personally think 6 points for that is fucking ridiculous. I also think he’s a dick for behaving like that. However as you know he has you bang to rights so you pay up and suck it up.

This feels like a reach. You’re allowed to have hands free phone calls while driving. You’re allowed to have conversations in the car, which may also be upsetting. You can listen to the radio in the car and the news may upset you.

And plenty of cars have screens that will display text messages that come in and that is perfectly legal - I’ve already said upthread that I don’t think car screens should do this as it’s definitely distracting to have texts coming up, when the only reason they would do this is so you can read them while driving. It seems ridiculous to me that it’s allowed, but I wouldn’t argue it on the basis that the text might upset somebody.

This. I’m sorry but your full attention needs to be on the road/traffic, especially with your child in the car.

I don't. It means she can't do it again. That is fair.

And he was not a dick for catching her breaking the law.

You didn't notice the cyclist was until it was too late? Thats why drivers are so dangerous

As far as the law is concerned it is the same.

So any old cyclist can just film someone now and the police go with it?

If they have evidence of an offence... which this cyclist did.

You were in the wrong so own it. Also, please don’t use the “I’m a female” card, it is cheap!

Six points and a fine prove its definitely not risk free…

Anyone can. Unless you are driving obviously! But people filming others who they think are breaking the law is hardly a new pastime. Look at ring doorbells for a start.

I don't need to read anything, it's common sense that the act of looking at a phone screen for the two seconds it takes to read a message is exactly the same as looking in your handbag in terms of eyes not on the traffic lights. The handbag was just an example, you might be looking at something out of a side window and miss the lights changing. Do you think that's dangerous?

The law is the law, thats indisputable, what's ridiculous is suggesting that taking your eyes off the traffic lights puts multiple lives at risk