A Florida deputy cited an adaptive athlete for texting with her right hand. She doesn’t have one. Oh, and KVJ morning show was rolling the whole time.
What We Know: On February 11, a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s deputy pulled over Katie Thomas — known online as @slightlyoff.balance — along North Dixie Highway in Lake Worth Beach. He claimed she held her phone in her right hand. Thomas, born with a limb difference, immediately raised her arm to show the obvious problem. The bodycam footage went viral with millions of views — and sharp-eared listeners noticed WRMF‘s KVJ morning show playing clearly as the deputy stepped out of his patrol car.
What’s at Stake: The citation — $116 for a first offense — was dismissed May 27 at the deputy’s own request. However, the real story for radio fans is the soundtrack. KVJ were mid-show when this awkward stop unfolded. Furthermore, this isn’t the first time KVJ has appeared in viral law enforcement footage. Apparently, WRMF has quietly become the unofficial station of South Florida’s finest.
What Remains Unclear: Whether the deputy realizes he inadvertently gave WRMF its best promotional moment of 2025 remains unknown. No word yet on whether the show, or anyone at the station has officially claimed their cameo. Additionally, how many other patrol cars across Palm Beach County are tuned to 97.9 is still undocumented.
What It Means: Simply put, KVJ didn’t need a marketing budget for this one. The show landed in front of millions of viewers without buying a single impression. For WRMF, it’s validation that their morning show resonates well beyond the breakfast table — all the way into patrol cars, traffic stops, and now, internet history. Morning radio doesn’t get better earned media than this.
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David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.
