(KRON) — A California appellate court ruled Tuesday that a state law prohibiting the handheld use of cellphones while driving also applies to holding phones operating as navigation systems.

The Court of Appeal of the State of California sixth appellate district reached its decision against defendant Nathaniel Gabriel Porter, who received a $158 ticket in Santa Clara County for holding his cellphone in one hand and looking at a mapping application while driving.

Porter appealed the ticket and the fine was initially reversed on the grounds that he was not "operating" a wireless telephone as outlined by state law, but holding and looking at the mapping application on the phone without "active manipulation," court documents state.

“The court concluded ‘there must be something equated to car

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