BOISE — The last thing you want to see is red and blue lights in your rear-view mirror, especially with the holidays approaching. Boise police department is reminding drivers to slow down, but with a sweet twist.
"In place of speeding ticket what Boise Police is doing is we're giving out chocolate bars," said officer Kyle Wills with the Boise Police Department.
Officers are giving drivers two chocolate bars alongside a safety message for minor violations. They're calling it a 'reward fine.'
"The 'fine' is you have to pay the other one forward to someone you think could use one," said Wills, "it's really from most of them it's really a feeling of gratitude, sometimes emotional."
One driver lacking a license plate had an emotional response to the kind gesture.
"it's hard, it's Christmas, so finances are kind of tight so to have this kind of fine is really awesome,"
The holidays don't exempt drivers from following the rules, but it lets the Boise Police Department spread cheer along with a reminder.
"That positive interaction we have with them is an opportunity for us to help educate them on being aware of their driving," said Wills.
After Christmas, it's back to the real deal, but BPD hopes the message they're trying to spread lasts longer than the chocolate's shelf life.
"Whether it's folks that get pulled over by us, or maybe you've heard about it, we just encourage those folks to slow down, so take that extra time get to where you're headed safely and enjoy the holidays," said Wills.
