Driver claims he was fined $580 for using the McDonald’s mobile app at the drive-thru – now we know what really happened

A DRIVER has vowed to fight a whopping $580 fine for using the McDonald’s mobile app to order a free meal at his local drive-thru.

But the teenager’s McDonald’s reward resulted in a “very expensive lunch” – for good reason.

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The driver, from Saskatoon, Canada, had left work to grab a quick lunch, he reported. TVC News.

Mason Prima, 18, said he just wanted to use a free meal he got on his McDonald’s app.

He described himself as “barely moving, just rolling” in the drive-thru.

But to Prima’s surprise, he suddenly noticed a motorcycle officer right behind him while looking in the rearview mirror.

The teen said he showed the officer his phone to prove he was just using his rewards app while at the drive-thru.

However, the police officer fined him $580 for the crime.

“I’m barely moving. I open my app and look in the rearview mirror and there’s a motorcycle police officer behind me,” Prima told CTV.

He told the station that the officer had approached his car window.

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

“I thought he was going to let me go because I’m just trying to get a free meal, but no, it turned out to be a really expensive lunch.”

Prima explained to the broadcaster that she was in a complicated situation.

He had to use his app to complete his order and receive his free meal, as requested by McDonald’s staff.

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

“I was a bit shocked, to be honest. I’ve never had this before – I open my app every time I go to the drive-thru and I’ve never had this problem.”

However, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police of Saskatchewan (RCMP) rejected their version of the situation.

In a statement to CTV, the force said he committed a traffic violation.

“RCMP can confirm that on May 13, 2024, the individual was observed operating a vehicle on a public road while using a cell phone,” it said.

“A Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan RCMP officer initiated a traffic stop with the individual.

“The individual then stopped in the McDonald’s parking lot, where the traffic violation was issued.”

But the situation was clearly confusing for Prima, according to Brian Pfefferle, a criminal defense lawyer based in Saskatoon.

“I’m sorry for the individual who was accused here. If he was literally in the drive-thru area and not on a public road,” he said.

“I would venture to guess that the vast majority of people would use their cell phones in queues like this and this should not be considered illegal, but it is obviously debatable.”

Before his court appearance on July 31, Prima confessed that he was worried that he might have demerits on his license.

He promised to fight the fine.

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