RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. (AP) - Happy holidays. Now pull over to the side of the road.

Motorists may be in for a surprise if they spot flashing red lights in their rearview mirrors in this Sacramento suburb during the holiday season.

Police are stopping law-abiding motorists and rewarding their good driving with $5 Starbucks gift cards.

A traffic officer came up with the idea to "promote the holiday spirit and enhance goodwill between the traffic unit and the motoring public," police Sgt. Tim Curran said.

Local businesses donated money to buy the gift cards.

"They raised a substantial amount of money," Curran said. "They'll be pulling over a lot of people."

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I think that is a great idea! Why not reward the ones who follow the rules of the road?

Why do they have to be pulled over? Just send the card in the mail.

The cops probably want to see the appreciation on the driver's face...and the consternation as to what they did to get pulled over!

well. I wanna be pulled over to receive a gift coupon.

Or they could try to toss a cup of coffee through the window as the car speeds by.
They can't send the card in the mail, because if they see a car go by, they won't know who is in the car and where this person lives. You'd have to quickly write down the license plate number and then illegally search for the owners adress. (at least I think it is illegal to track down someone's adress like this just for commercial purposes)

the consternation is the key phrase here, I bet this goes wrong some how. I think I would be a little distrubed for being pulled over and then told "hey, great driving; heres a $5.00 gift card". I freakn hate be pulled over. Thats just me though, I have issue's(if you haven't noticed..LOL)




So, follow the car I question, call in the Plates and shazam, instant flag in the DMV computer to send out the gift card. As for it being illegal or not, cops can pretty much do what they want.

So, with this gimmick they can pull over anyone they want, without probable cause, with the ruse of giving away a gift certificate.

Ya! what she said!

Try to see it from the positive side, just be glad the police is actually doing something nice for you for a change

Im going to drive slightly irresponsible forever now so that i neither get pulled over for being a bad driver or a good driver

Hey Fins, I don't think any of us ever noticed you had issues J/K........

LMAO!! Hee Hee

Drivers should sue for misuse of police gear and unlawful actions against them. They made it quite clear that these drivers were doing nothing wrong, so why bother them? Wasn't aware you could just pull anybody over for the hell of it. I guess the next time a cop sees a hottie behind the wheel and he wants her number... Just flip on the lights and ask? Mean, if you don't stop for those guys you'll get chased down like a rabid animal, tazered and/or shot and if you survive that you get either handcuffed in the hospital or get a cold jail cell to rot in. They're exploiting the laws that are suppose to protect and serve us so they can shell out business good will cards for free ad time. Great.

edit:
Should have read before I ranted, lol, I agree a lot with you Finsup22.

HEY! ............LMAO!

I know for a fact this happens. Cops can do what ever they want.

Yeah, I can see it coming. Good driver runs from cops and causes a car pile up and a death.

So much for the cup of coffee.

what no doughnuts?

I got pulled over once for......wearing my seatbelt......and was given a $10 gift certificate to a local department store.