Michigan police deliver presents - instead of tickets - during traffic stops
The Lowell Police Department stopped motorists for minor violations and the officer chatted them up to find out what was on their shopping list. A crew waiting at a department store down the road then grabbed the appropriate present and delivered it.
BY JOEL LANDAU
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Published: Wednesday, December 10, 2014, 1:57 PM
Updated: Wednesday, December 10, 2014, 1:57 PM
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Santa Claus is doing traffic stops now.
A police department in mid Michigan started the holiday season early by pulling over a bunch of residents in their downtown for minor infractions. But instead of issuing summonses, the officers interrogated the motorists about their Christmas shopping lists -- and then provided them with the gifts.
The whole event is presented in an online video featuring the people and officers of Lowell, Mich., in November.
Rob Bliss, a producer of online viral videos whose family lives in the suburb of Grand Rapids, pitched the idea to the department. The project was made in conjunction with Up TV's Uplift Someone campaign, which paid for all the gifts.
The director told the Daily News that the officers would stop someone for a minor infraction such as a nonworking headlight, tinted windows or driving through a yellow light. While stopped, the officer was tasked with chatting up the driver and asking what they wanted for the holidays.
Little did they know the officer had a microphone on and that a crew from the network was down the road at a department store. They would hurriedly grab the item and rush it to the vehicle.
So am I getting a, I'm not getting a ticket right?
Over two days, Up TV's campaign spent between $8,000 and $10,000 on presents like Legos, TVs and a hatchet for a very outdoorsy 6-year-old, Bliss said.
The people seemed friendly in the video even though they thought they were getting a ticket for a small violation. The officers worked extra hard to appear gregarious and it was always reciprocated from the members of the friendly town, Bliss said.
When the gifts arrived, the people were obviously shocked.
One woman asked if she could hug the officer and the two embraced.
"So am I getting a, I'm not getting a ticket right?" she asked.
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"I can give you one if you want," he teased.
Some people were not as patient and asked if they could leave. The officers obliged, but they missed out on the gifts. Bliss said one person was moments away from receiving new laptops for the impatient person's kids.
Lowell police Chief Steven Bukala told The News the stops were for violations they normally would not enforce.
Speeders and reckless drivers remained on the naughty list.
"I did not want to reward bad behavior," he said, adding the department also checked the driver's license and registration.
I did not want to reward bad behavior.
Of the 50 people stopped, about 30 of them stayed around long enough to get their presents, he said.
Bukala, a Lowell officer for 19 years and chief for the past 13 months, said he was excited about the project because he’s a big proponent of community policing and helping people in his jurisdiction.
"I'm on a first-name basis with most store owners and residents," he said. "It was a way to give to the people we work with every day."
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