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SANDY — Usually when a police officer pulls over a driver, it's bad news. That's not necessarily the case for motorists who get ticketed in Sandy during March. The Sandy Police Department is handing out movie tickets to motorists who drive safely.
Officer Ryan Metcalf regularly sets up at an I-15 off-ramp in Sandy to catch drivers who run the red light.
Friday, he was handing out a different kind of ticket. When Gavin Crawford first saw Metcalf, he wasn't sure if he had done something wrong. He then realized he wasn't in trouble at all.
"It's always good to be rewarded, rather than have them write you a ticket for doing something wrong," Crawford said.
We're looking to save property damage and injuries. So this is just another tool we're going to use to see if we can help out.
–Police Chief Stephen Chapman
Sandy City hopes the month-long campaign makes a difference.
"We're looking to save lives," said Police Chief Stephen Chapman.
They've partnered with Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres and the Sandy City Chamber of Commerce to reward drivers for good behavior.
Police officers will reward movie tickets for the following:
- Drivers that stop at the stop line
- Drivers who yield to oncoming traffic on left turns
- Drivers that turn into the proper lane
- Drivers who stop instead of accelerating at yellow lights
"We're looking to save property damage and injuries," Chapman said. "So this is just another tool we're going to use to see if we can help out."
Sandy officers will reward drivers for several things, including drivers who stop at the stop line and drivers who stop, rather than accelerate, at yellow lights.
"Running red lights is very, very dangerous, and we've concentrated a lot of our efforts in controlling that," Chapman said.
"Driving and obeying the traffic laws is a choice," said Sandy City Mayor Tom Dolan. "The choice is that we can obey those laws and make it safe for everyone, or we can disobey those laws and the punishment follows."
Crawford says he obeys the laws for his own good.
"I've seen the consequences of what can happen when laws aren't followed, and people aren't doing safe things," Crawford said. "It's not a good thing."
So if a Sandy Police officer approaches your car this month, it just might be that you're getting a reward.
"Good people are going to be good people, and good drivers are going to be good drivers because they see the value and the benefit," said Metcalf.
Sandy officials hope motorists will stay sharp on the roads during this campaign, and then carry on with that safe driving behavior.
