The City of Hamilton has once again allowed someone to drive distracted while participating in a City meeting.
Richie Khanna was driving his car while speaking to Hamilton’s Committee of Adjustment today (September 25), as a dozen city officials watched him on the large projector screen of the Council Chambers.
Khanna’s eyes went back and forth between looking at the roadway he was driving on, and looking at the WebEx video conference screen.
Here’s a short video clip of one of the three monitors in the Council Chambers showing the distracted driving.
Distracted driving is illegal in Ontario.
Richie Khanna is the principal of R&R Designs Inc., and is one of the most frequent agents representing property owners seeking minor variances from the City of Hamilton.
Today, he was speaking as the agent for a person seeking to expand their rural house.
He was visible on the Council Chamber video screens beginning at 3:24 p.m., and continued to participate until 4:14 p.m. when his application was approved.
Khanna was in his motor vehicle for the entire 50 minutes of his delegation and hearing. Despite seeing him on screen, and interacting with him, Committee Chair Dale Smith did not request that he stop the motor vehicle.
It is not the first time a person has participated in a City of Hamilton committee meeting while operating a motor vehicle.
In June 2021, Veterans’ Committee member Don Jackson participated in a WebEx video conference while operating a commercial vehicle on the QEW.
Last term’s City Council decided against issuing any consequences against Jackson.
The City of Hamilton does not have policies formally requiring that delegates not be in a moving motor vehicle.
For example, Ontario’s courts prohibit participants from being inside moving vehicles.
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: September 25, 2025
Last updated: September 25, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version
It is not distracted driving and is not illegal if he is hands free. The title of the article is misleading. Next you will be criticised for carrying on a conversation with passengers.
He is participating in a video conference and looking at the video at times. This is distracted driving.
Important matters require intention and ATTENTION. There should be zero multi-tasking, let alone law breaking happening. Clearly he didn’t bother to think this through and his opponent caught him slipping when they screenshotted this.
If Hamilton wants to be taken seriously as a real place this garbage conduct needs to be shut down cold.
The law states driving while using a cellphone is prohibited; nevermind company policy. As any caring person in the room should have stopped the meeting and reconvened at a later more appropriate time for all if need be. By law that would be neglect of situation by all involved.
I appear in civil and criminal courts they have STRICT rules about virtual appearances. Maybe the City should do the same and enforce it.
The level of complacency by City Council members is not acceptable. Had this driver have caused or been involved in a motor vehicle collision while virtually attending this meeting, legal consequences, not just for Mr Khanna, but also for City of Hamilton could be a reality. Ambivalence vs Complicity is the issue here.
Yes, Richie Khanna made a risky choice by driving during a city council meeting. Public officials must be held to high standards. But exposing him so publicly feels unnecessarily harsh.
A private reminder would have been the more ethical path—one that allows for reflection without humiliation. We all make mistakes. Would you want your own slip-up broadcast to the world?
Richie is our brother in humanity. Accountability matters, but so does compassion. Let’s choose both. “Salam”(Peace)
So you are okay with distracted driving and the fact he could have seriously hurt someone by participating in video conferencing while driving? That seems ridiculous. He chose to do the “mistake” publicly? Had it been with his friends privately and been caught he wouldn’t have been called out. He decided to do it publicly therefore he need to accept the public consequences of that. Let’s stop making excuses for people; he chose to do this action now he needs to accept the consequences of it. Time to stop being naive
This is utterly the most irresponsible thing anybody WOULD ALLOW; Cities, Provincially, Federally would stand behind Hamilton Police, Niagara Police, Toronto Police to OPP to RCMP pulling anyone over for doing the same thing and give the mandatory dermit point penalty and fine of ? $3000.00( could be off). Never-mind MTO has had the same problem in the trucking world will Drivers are VIDEO CHATTING WITH LOVED ONES OR MOVIE WATCHING, either way I look at it it’s classified as DISTRACTED DRIVING and No Officer No POLITICIAN No Person is above the LAW. Find Him FINE HIM ACCORDINGLY AND THAT AND ANY OTHER PREVIOUS CHATS/ MEETINGS THAT THIS TYPE THING SHOULD BE REVOKED FROM THE BOOKS, and IF THIS WAS A CITY VOTE = VOID
It’s one thing to be talking and driving because your eyes are not being diverted but video conferencing while driving is potentially life threatening to anyone who might get into an accident caused by someone taking their eyes off the road. It should be mandatory for those attending via video conferencing MUST be stationary. If you are in a car then find a spot to park and then be in the meeting, completely present. It’s also just good manners and if this man was representing me and my issues I would not be happy with this lack of professionalism. Luckily Khanns won on behalf of his client but who is to say that his breaking the law would not have caused a council member to vote a different way. Cause and effect my friends – cause and effect.
You don’t need a policy, you need common sense. All those involved are at fault….wonder why Canada is collapsing