Motorists caught speeding in Melbourne, Fla., on Christmas Day were also caught off guard as officers issued free lottery scratch-off games alongside warnings and tickets.
“We’re just doing a little bit of a different technique,” Sgt. Jamie Rocque told local newspaper Florida Today. “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.”
By 1 p.m. on Christmas Day, more than 30 scratch-off game tickets reportedly had been handed out to traffic violators in an effort to spread the Christmas spirit while keeping the roads safe.
“There are no special operations, but we are basically doing road patrol because we have to keep the streets safe,” Mr. Rocque said, adding that he wasn’t aware if any of the scratch-off tickets turned out to be big winners.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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