Police issued lotto tickets during Christmas traffic stops

Dec 26, 2013, 8:20 am (18 comments)

Florida Lottery

Motorists caught speeding to grandma's house in Melbourne, Florida, were greeted with a bittersweet Christmas Day surprise as officers doled out warnings and tickets alongside scratch-off lottery games.

The unique move was an added touch Melbourne police officers wanted to put on the normally quiet holiday traffic.

By 1 p.m. Christmas Day, more than 30 scratch-off game tickets were handed out to speeders and other traffic violators in a bid to spread holiday cheer while keeping the roads safe, police say.

"We're just doing a little bit of a different technique," said Sgt. Jamie Rocque.

"When we pull the motorists over, we're also giving them the scratch-off tickets that the officers bought with their own personal funds. It's something good to do in light of the holidays. We're getting a lot of surprised looks...people don't know what to say," Rocque said.

The road patrols are concentrated along the Wickham Road commercial corridor, a roadway that has had a number of traffic crashes in recent weeks.

Officers are also checking for tinted windows and other violations. Christmas Day traffic also seems a little heavier than normal, Rocque said.

"There are no special operations, but we are basically doing road patrol because we have to keep the streets safe," he said.

It was not immediately known if any of the game tickets were big winners.

"I don't know, but we wish them well," Rocque said.

Florida Today

Comments

RedStang's avatarRedStang

It's a setup to see if you scratch while driving.

hearsetrax's avatarhearsetrax

Quote: Originally posted by RedStang on Dec 26, 2013

It's a setup to see if you scratch while driving.

3 wise kitties

Shelby Mustang

Hehehehe I'll bet that was fun I'd love to be a cop for a day and do that....Pulls someone over and say "do you know why I stopped you"? Then tell then your giving them a ticket and see the reaction when they realize it's a lotto ticket. It is certainly the only ticket I'd ever want to get from a cop LOL!!

Jon D's avatarJon D

Did they only give out scratch tickets alongside warnings?

Or did they also give out scratch tickets alongside real tickets? If so, that would be like giving one tiny piece of candy in your stocking alongside a big old lump of coal!

...if it was just a $1 scratch ticket like:

http://www.flalottery.com/scratch-offsGameDetails.do?gameNumber=1209

rdgrnr's avatarrdgrnr

I wonder how long before the first lawsuit is filed for giving one to a problem gambler who went back to gambling and wound up losing everything...

stripesnsolids's avatarstripesnsolids

And the winning amount on your scratch off is just enough to cover the fine from your ticket.

loonasee2's avatarloonasee2

watch the habitual player will become a habitual speeder ,going back for more trying to win enough to pay his first fine .lol

Lucki723

What?

helpmewin's avatarhelpmewin

Police issued lotto tickets during Christmas traffic stops

 

Always good to see TAX $$$ put to good use Dance

dallascowboyfan's avatardallascowboyfan

Quote: Originally posted by RedStang on Dec 26, 2013

It's a setup to see if you scratch while driving.

Big Grin

sully16's avatarsully16

Passive agressive cops,

Hope someone scratches a winner

Slick Nick's avatarSlick Nick

I think this was a great move, sometimes a bit of reverse respect works, maybe this will!Smash

Tialuvslotto's avatarTialuvslotto

I think this is great!  Too bad that the cops had to buy the tickets, though...

Astekblue's avatarAstekblue

Quote: Originally posted by RedStang on Dec 26, 2013

It's a setup to see if you scratch while driving.

Green laugh

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