This senator was behind the wheel and connected to Zoom while the law to sanction distracted drivers was being discussed.

By Wilson Wong - NBC News

An Ohio state senator was caught driving while attending a government meeting Monday through Zoom, the same day the state was considering a bill proposing to take action against distracted drivers.

In the video of the State Control Board meeting, which was broadcast live to the public, State Senator Andrew Brenner can be seen sitting in the driver's seat of his parked car.

Then he seems to lean forward and turn off his camera.

When Brenner returns, the video shows the senator with a new virtual background 

to make it appear that he is in an office

and not at the wheel of his car.

The filter shows brown wooden cabinets, hanging art pieces, and a houseplant.

However, a seat belt tied to his chest gives him away.

The unexpected end of a Zoom hearing in a domestic violence case

March 13, 202101: 34

Throughout the call, Brenner occasionally turns his head to the side, revealing the view from the driver's window.

"Senator Brenner was simply following the law, and he used hands-free audio technology," said his spokesman John Fortney.

Brenner, a Republican representing an area north of Columbus, told The Columbus Dispatch that he was

"not distracted"

during the Zoom call, and admitted that he has previously taken phone calls while driving.

[Journalist Jeffrey Toobin is fired from The New Yorker magazine after showing his private parts in a Zoom video call]

"I was paying attention to driving," Brenner said. "I had two meetings in a row at different locations. And I've actually been on other calls, numerous calls, while driving. Most of the phone calls, but in video calls I don't pay attention to the video. For me, it

's like a phone call.

".

The incident occurred while

the state House of Representatives was considering a bill criminalizing the use of the telephone while driving

.

House Bill 283 seeks to prohibit drivers from doing a number of things behind the wheel, such as

texting, taking photos and using mobile apps.

It would also make holding and using an electronic device while driving, such as looking up directions, a major offense.

[They broke into stealing while I was in a class by Zoom and that was their salvation]

In February, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement that he would include driving safety provisions in his next budget bill.

"Current Ohio laws don't go far enough to change the culture around distracted driving, and

people are dying for it

," DeWine said.

"Distracted driving is an option that should be as culturally unacceptable as

drunk driving

is today

, and strengthening our current laws will lead to more responsible driving," he added.

Do you use Zoom?

This way you can avoid fraud and identity theft in that tool

Nov. 29, 202000: 34

The Brenner incident is the latest mundane episode to take an interesting turn in the era of the coronavirus, video conferencing, and telecommuting.

Last month, a

Canadian lawmaker was caught naked during a virtual meeting of the House of Commons

.

William Amos, who has represented the Pontiac district of Quebec since 2015, explained that his video was accidentally turned on while he was putting on his work clothes after running.

"I sincerely apologize to my colleagues in the House of Commons for this inadvertent distraction. Obviously, it was an honest mistake and it will not happen again," he said then in a statement.

In February, a Sacramento plastic surgeon appeared in traffic court for Zoom while he was operating on a patient.

Dr. Scott Green appeared in the virtual room from an operating room dressed in a surgical gown and mask.

Despite the doubts of a court clerk, Green insisted that they go ahead with the trial.

"Mr. Green. Hello. Are you available for trial? It looks like you are in an operating room right now," the secretary said in a video captured by The Sacramento Bee.

"I am, sir.

I'm in an operating room.

Yes, I'm available for trial

. Go ahead," Green replied.

And that same month, a virtual court hearing came to an abrupt halt in southwest Texas when an attorney inadvertently appeared on screen like a cat generated by a computer filter.

Presidio County Attorney Rod Ponton struggled to disable the applied filter after appearing in Zoom court as a

fluffy brown and white kitten.

Ponton later explained that he was forced to use the computer of his secretary, whose son was the last to use the desk, because his office was in the middle of a move.

In the audience, Ponton could be heard saying, "I'm ready to go through with it. I'm here live,

I'm not a cat

.

"