You're waiting for food at the drive-thru, you pull out your phone. You're at a red light, you pull out your phone. But is it legal?

An Alberta, Canada man was surprised when he received a $287 ticket after sending a text message while waiting in line at a Tim Hortons drive-thru. (See the video below.)

Canada's law which prohibits texting and driving is rather strict, forbidding drivers from sending texts or email while behind the wheel. It applies to "drivers on publicly and privately-owned property that drivers are permitted to use for the passage or parking of vehicles."

So conceivably, a Canadian police officer could issue a ticket to someone who is behind the wheel, sitting in a privately-owned parking lot.

Michigan law is a little more vague. "All Michigan drivers are prohibited from texting while driving. Under Michigan's anti-texting law (sec. 257.602.b) a driver shall not "read, manually type, or send a text message on a wireless 2-way communication device that is located in the person's hand or in the person's lap, including a wireless telephone used in cellular telephone service or personal communication service, while operating a motor vehicle that is moving on a highway or street in this state."

If I'm reading that correctly, it sounds like sending and receiving texts while at a red light is against the law, but texting while you're waiting for a QP Burger (with cheese of course) won't get you a ticket.

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