Some Miami Beach Motorists Get on the 'Nice' List

MIAMI BEACH — Twenty-five motorists in this resort community may have thought they were being pulled over for a traffic infraction this week only to get a taste of holiday cheer and a $25 gift card from the Miami Beach Police Department and the Fraternal Order of Police.

"We pulled over 25 vehicles for doing the right thing, that’s right, the right thing," police spokesman Ernesto Rodriguez told Patch on Wednesday.

He said that a team of officers set up along the 1000 block of West Avenue on Tuesday morning to pull motorists over who exhibited good driving habits — essentially those on the department's holiday "nice" list as opposed to the naughty motorists police typically focus on throughout the rest of the year.

Bobby Jenkins, president of the Miami Beach FOP said that the holiday gesture was a hit.

"More often than not, citizens come into contact with law enforcement under more strenuous circumstances," Jenkins said. "This seemed like a great opportunity to have officers and the community come together and share a nice experience where citizens are being rewarded for yielding the right of way."

He said that the reactions were holiday memories in and of themselves.

"There were drivers pulled over yesterday during the event who jumped out of their cars and hugged the officers, smiling and thanking them for their service," according to Jenkins. "We need more of this kind of interaction during this holiday season, encouraging unity."

The FOP donated 25 VISA gift cards that were handed out.

Rodriguez added that police selected the location based on the high number of pedestrian- and traffic-related complaints they receive from area residents.

"The officers identified drivers who came to a complete stop as pedestrians crossed in the marked crosswalk," he explained. "They initiated the traffic stop and to the driver’s surprise, handed them each a gift card. After the initial shock, the smiles spoke for themselves."

Photos courtesy of the Miami Beach Police FOP.