McDonald’s customer says he was hit with $400 traffic ticket for opening app in drive-thru

That’s one expensive free meal.

A McDonald’s customer was hit with a $425 traffic ticket when he used his phone to redeem a free meal from the fast food chain’s drive-thru on May 13.

Mason Prima, 18, claimed he was waiting inside his car online at one of the Golden Arches locations in Canada and accessing the fast food chain’s mobile app when Saskatoon police pulled him over.

“I’m barely even moving. I pull up my app and look at the rear-view mirror and there’s a motorcycle cop behind me,” Prima told CTV News.

The teen assumed he could clear things up with the officer and show that he was using the app, which allows customers to pre-order their meals and use coupons.

“I just go like this and show him I’m on my McDonald’s app loading up the code to get a free meal,” Prima said.

“I’m just trying to get a free meal, but no, turns out to be a very expensive lunch,” the teen added.

Prima claimed he had always used his phone when he ordered at McDonald’s and was never once pulled over for it.

“I was kind of shocked to be honest. I’ve never had that before — I open up my app every time I go over to drive-thru and I’ve never had that issue,” Prima said.

Prima argued that he wasn’t necessarily driving but that his car, a BMW, was just “rolling.”

“I didn’t have my foot on the gas or brake. It was just rolling. Barely moving,” Prima said.

Saskatoon police issued Prima a $580 fine, equivalent to $425 USD.

While the fine is a large price for the teen, Prima is more concerned about the demerits placed on his license as he has only been given one speeding ticket since he started driving two and a half years ago.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police refuted Prima’s view of the traffic stop, claiming the teen was seen on his phone before entering the restaurant’s parking lot.

“RCMP can confirm that on May 13, 2024 the individual was observed driving a vehicle on a public roadway while using a cellphone,” the department said, according to CTV News.

“A Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan RCMP officer initiated a traffic stop with the individual. The individual then pulled in the McDonald’s parking lot, where the traffic violation was issued.”

A local criminal defense lawyer says there is still some ambiguity regarding cell phone use and the law.

“I feel for the individual that was charged here. If he was literally in the … drive-thru area and not on a public roadway,” Brian Pfefferle told the outlet.

“I would venture to guess that a great majority of people would utilize their cellphones in lineups such as that and it shouldn’t be considered illegal, but it’s obviously debatable.”

Prima is confident in his recounting of the incident that he won’t pay the fine and instead fight the ticket in court in July.