Motorists who velocity just a little bit by way of chosen faculty zones on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway throughout the holidays may get an onion from the Grinch as an alternative of a site visitors quotation.
Colonel Lou Caputo, of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, donned the Grinch costume Tuesday afternoon and stood side-by-side with different officers as they aimed a radar velocity detector at vehicles touring by a neighborhood elementary faculty.
He says he portrays the fictional character created by youngsters’s writer Dr. Seuss to provide motorists a “gift,” but additionally to name consideration in a pleasant option to the necessity to obey velocity limits at school zones.
“It’s about education, awareness that our school zones are still operating, even though it’s the holiday season,” Caputo mentioned. (*6*)
Caputo and Sheriff’s Office deputies have been staging Grinch velocity enforcement particulars in chosen Keys faculty zones for 20 years.
Drivers who journey about 5 mph or much less above the varsity zone’s velocity restrict can select between site visitors citations and odorous onions offered by the Grinch. Those dashing past that may doubtless get a pricey ticket.
When a automotive is pulled over, deputies method the motive force to examine the automobile’s license plate and the motive force’s license. If all is so as, the deputy asks the motorist to attend within the automotive. That’s when the Grinch makes his look to speak with the often-startled driver, reinforce the rationale for the site visitors cease after which supply the selection between a quotation and an onion.
“It catches them off guard, Caputo mentioned. “So once I current the onion to them, they’re considering what to do.
“But when I give them a clear choice of a citation, or the onion, they will take the onion,” he mentioned. “And I’ve had them eat the onion, right in front of me.” Keys faculties stay in session by way of Dec. 16.