Distracted driving is a serious issue, claiming many lives. To combat this, police regularly fine drivers using mobile phones.
What happens, however, if police themselves are causing driver distraction? This unusual accusation is now emerging in Canada.
CBC News reported the case of Laurie Esseltine, who observed an "unoccupied drone hovering over her vehicle" while stopped at a red light. Finding this unusual, she took two pictures with her phone and waited for the light to change.
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Kingston Police and two drones. *Kingston Police*. |
When the light turned green, Esseltine proceeded and was quickly pulled over by Kingston Police. Authorities cited Esseltine for using her phone while driving, a violation carrying significant penalties: three demerit points, a USD 449 fine, and a potential three-day license suspension.
Esseltine argued the situation was unfair. However, in a brief court appearance on 9/2, the charges against her were withdrawn. This marked at least the second drone-related charge dismissed that day without explanation.
Authorities appear to be implicitly acknowledging that using drones for this purpose is a flawed idea. Kingston Police confirmed they have not used drones for distracted driving enforcement since the initial incident in May 2025, and are unaware of any other agency employing drones for traffic law enforcement.
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Some drivers recorded using phones while driving. *Kingston Police*. |
The drone in question was introduced in 2021, primarily intended for collision scene reconstruction, searching for missing persons, apprehending fleeing or hiding suspects, and large-scale events.
While the police department has ceased using drones for distracted driving enforcement, their initial deployment raised questions. As Esseltine aptly stated, "What better way to catch a distracted driver than to create that distraction?"
The Canadian Constitutional Foundation (CCF) has also become involved, believing the use of drones constitutes unreasonable search and seizure. The group suspects authorities are dismissing some cases, but they seek the annulment of all 20 tickets issued.
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