Turkeys Instead of Tickets: Montana Cops Make Motorists' Day

Police in Billings, Montana, gave out turkeys instead of tickets to minor traffic violators on last week as part of a new program the department is trying for the first time. 

Drivers who were pulled over Wednesday for minor violations such as a tail light being out were given a warning and a frozen turkey, ABC News reported. Major violators were still ticketed.

The police department said it received a donation of 20 turkeys and decided to share them in a fun way, CBS 4 reported.

The gesture generated many positive comments on social media.

“Our Facebook page has received a lot of positive comments regarding it,” Lt. Neil Lawrence said, ABC News reported. “So far it has been a very positive thing for the community.”

“Maybe this will make your decision for turkey a little bit easier this year,” an officer told a driver before giving him a turkey, according to CBS 4. 

“Oh is that right, that’s awfully kind of you,” the driver responded. 

Twitter was full of praise for turkeys instead of tickets.

How sweet. Good to know we still have decent minded folk left in this country

— cecelia (@cecelia87lopez) November 13, 2017

We love our men in blue!

— Angie (@Persistance007) November 13, 2017

Isn’t that lovely. Should do this often considering they’re getting a bad wrap at times... promote community

— BoredMelons (@bored_melons) November 13, 2017

you have the right to be merry; you have the right to a dressing and a pumpkin bread…

— Franiz Raniz (@AezhinAhrr) November 13, 2017

• Beer Turkeys: Thanksgiving Dinner Tastier With a Little Booze?
• Grandma Invites Teen to Thanksgiving After Texting Wrong Person