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.
It's a setup to see if you scratch while driving.
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!!
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
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...
And the winning amount on your scratch off is just enough to cover the fine from your ticket.
watch the habitual player will become a habitual speeder ,going back for more trying to win enough to pay his first fine .lol
Police issued lotto tickets during Christmas traffic stops
Always good to see TAX $$$ put to good use
Passive agressive cops,
Hope someone scratches a winner
I think this was a great move, sometimes a bit of reverse respect works, maybe this will!
I think this is great! Too bad that the cops had to buy the tickets, though...
Nice Picture hearse
" Do you know why I pulled you over " ???
Made me think Shelby of that commercial I really like , where the cop pulls over that pig driving a convertible
And the cop walks up and asks " you know why I pulled you over today sir " ???
And the pig says........" because I am a pig driving a convertible" ??? LOL
Cop just " stares " at him .....and then says......." Tail light out ...... fix it " !!!!!!!
Then the cop walks away real cool like........putting his shades back on
I crack up ever time I see that commercial.........a true classic LOL
That would be funny for sure LOL
That is truly a great way to spread the christmas spirit, issuing lotto tickets to road violators. I can't imagine the look on the violators face when the cop hands him the ticket. Well the violators will surely be thankful, especially when it is a winning ticket.