Winnipeg police say a local councillor will not face any charges or get a ticket for distracted driving after reportedly posting a photo of himself while in a vehicle.
Coun. Kevin Klein (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood), who is chair of the Winnipeg Police Board, tweeted the selfie on Tuesday.
In the reflection on his sunglasses, one hand can be seen on his steering wheel, while his other hand appears to be on his knee close to what appears to be his phone.
In the distance, the photo appears to show Klein’s vehicle in the middle lane of a road.
Police said Klein’s actions did not violate the Highway Traffic Act.
The phone can be “used in a hands-free manner” and is controlled exclusively by voice commands. According to the Highway Traffic Act, if a phone is touched during use, it can be touched “not more than once to initiate, accept or end a telephone call or to use or cease using a non-communication function of the device.”
CBC Manitoba reported that Klein originally told the news outlet he did not touch the phone’s screen while driving, saying he used only voice commands.
On Thursday afternoon, Klein told Global News Radio 680CJOB that he went to police to have them look into the issue when the CBC story was published.
“I didn’t break the law and I completely understand why people are offended. And that wasn’t my intent,” Klein said.
“I can appreciate people’s concern … and their need to vent online and in other ways because I think some media did position it as if I was guilty, no matter what; they had already kind of convicted me.
“It made me realize … I should be held publicly accountable as well, which is why I did call the Winnipeg police and said: ‘Look, I need you to review this matter and if I’m guilty, I deserve to be fired.'”
Klein added: “I really should have known better. And it’s a valuable lesson.”
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