English Constables give speeders chocolates instead of tickets on traffic stops

[Terminator]

Speeding motorists in the Wyre Forest district are to be given chocolate and balloons instead of fixed penalty tickets as part of a recruitment campaign for the Special Constabulary.

The move to give speeders sweeteners instead of fines is designed to highlight the contribution of the volunteer police officers.

They will be handing out the balloons and chocolate as part of a road safety campaign on Saturday.

It follows a recent police initiative which saw lollipops being handed out to late-night revellers in Kidderminster to highlight the dangers of anti-social behaviour caused by alcohol.

But the latest has been condemned by town mayor Councillor Peter Dyke as "daft".

He said: "As mayor I regularly received complaints about speeding and this does appear to trivialise the whole thing.

"People living in areas where speeding is a problem may not understand why some people might just be given warnings and chocolates.

"If you receive complaints about speeding and children's lives in danger while crossing roads and after reporting things people claim nothing is done and then hear of things like this then they could become upset."

A police spokesman said: "It may seem unusual to hand out chocolate and balloons instead of fixed penalty tickets but this is more an educational and awareness exercise.

"This will be a one-day event and, of course, every case involving speeding motorists will be taken on a case-by-case basis and on individual merit."

North Worcestershire Specials Commandant Chris Cookson said: "The event is about working with the community to educate drivers about speed and road safety. We want to avoid giving out tickets if possible.

"We hope it will encourage people to think not only about speed and road safety related issues but also about becoming a Special."

[Manxman]

Glad I don't work there. I say either ticket them or warn them. Give them a sweet and they'll just look at you funny.

With Specials being reserves there'll also be the smartass comments of "you're only giving me this sweet cos you can't ticket me!"

[ChesCopPodz]

So if i speed through there I get free candy????? COOL!!!

[retdetsgt]

Is the chocolate ExLax?

[Batou]

So if i speed through there I get free candy????? COOL!!!

My thoughts exactly. Wonder if it'll be an Aero bar. I want a mint one.

[squeeeg]

So if i speed through there I get free candy????? COOL!!!

That is what I am thinking. I would speed up just to get on radar, then pull a U-turn and do it again :D

[Manxman]

Thing is, I know of very few specials who are trained to use laser/radar so I wonder if they could actually ticket anybody anyway.

[future5.0]

Is the chocolate ExLax?

Helll that would make them speed more trying to get to the next bathroom! :D

[Terminator]

I'd like to get input from some of our English cops here...

[britishcop]

Just when you think things cant get much worse! this is a pathetic and stupid idea! makes me almost embarassed to be a Police Officer!

[Johninaustin]

Gad, how embarrasing. I'd feed the stuff to dogs and cute ladies instead.:D

[cntryboy0531]

So if I speed, I can get candy too. Awesome. :D

[Cat_Doc]

Is the chocolate ExLax?

Wouldn't that certainly ensure there were more speeders, with a reasonable excuse? :D

[KittyMom]

That is, if not the dumbest idea I've heard of, certainly in the top 10. The women are going to speed to get the choccies and the men are going to speed to get free sweets to give to their girls.

[christrue]

Gad, how embarrasing. I'd feed the stuff to dogs and cute ladies instead.:D

Please, not to dogs and/or other pets. Chocolate could be
dangerous, even possibly deadly, to your Dog! :eek: