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Booked for being safe: RCMP to issue ‘positive tickets’ in Penticton

The summer-long campaign was launched by Penticton’s Brain Injury Society
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James Grandy from the RCMP issues the first “Positive Ticket” of 2022. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)

RCMP in Penticton won’t just be issuing tickets to people who break the law this summer.

People who get caught doing something “the right way” will be given a positive ticket from police and bylaw officers in the Peach City until the Labour Day long weekend.

Thanks to the South Okanagan Similkameen Brain Injury Society and its Positive Ticket Campaign, officers will have the special slips in their hands at the start of every shift, with a number of prizes up for grabs for people who are booked for being safe.

“We want to reward folks for doing things to keep themselves safe…things like wearing a bicycle helmet or wearing a personal floatation device while you are out enjoying your time at the beach,” said Linda Sankey from the society.

Sponsors of the campaign will contribute coupons and gifts to people who are issued a positive ticket, with free ice cream cones from Tickleberry’s among the treats up for grabs.

“There’s been a lot of things going as of late and this might be a way to get a little more positive and provide rewards for those who are doing the right thing like being safe while riding a bicycle,” said Const. James Grandy from the RCMP.

“You’ve been caught,” it reads on the positive tickets RCMP officers will issue all summer long in Penticton. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)
“You’ve been caught,” it reads on the positive tickets RCMP officers will issue all summer long in Penticton. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)

This summer marks the sixth time the Brain Injury Society has launched the initiative. Between RCMP and bylaw, up to 800 coupons have been issued in one single campaign cycle in past years.

While citizens can expect to be rewarded if randomly spotted keeping themselves safe, Grandy also believes the campaign will benefit Penticton officers just as much.

“Our officers will appreciate the opportunity to do something more positive, especially for the younger people,” he said. “Provide a positive impression, encourage safety but also interactions with the public. A lot of our officers don’t get that opportunity, so now they have an excuse to stop and have a positive chat with young people.”

READ MORE: Penticton elementary school students come together to raise $3k for OSNS centre


@lgllockhart
logan.lockhart@pentictonwesternnews.com