Police to Reward Courteous Drivers
Los Angeles police will be patrolling the San Fernando Valley in force this holiday season, looking for motorists to pull over and cite--for courteous driving.
As part of the LAPD Valley Traffic Division’s public education program, officers will give 100 motorists letters of commendation, as well as free movie passes or grocery store gift certificates. The program began this week and will run through Dec. 24.
“We’re looking for the good Samaritans out there,” said Capt. Alan Kerstein, head of Valley Traffic. Examples of courteous driving, he said, include stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks, allowing fellow drivers to enter your lane, or stopping to help a stranded motorist.
Officials centered the program in the Valley because it is the busiest section of the city in terms of traffic.
“Too often we only seem to focus on the unsafe driver, the one who drives recklessly and endangers others,” Police Chief Willie Williams wrote in the letter that exemplary drivers will receive.
“We neglect the good drivers who obey the traffic laws, yield the right-of-way and behave courteously to others on the roadway. You are one of those good drivers who we truly appreciate. . . . We hope this will make your holiday season a little more joyous.”
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