Suprise!

Motorists may be in for a surprise if they spot flashing red lights in their rearview mirrors in this Sacramento suburb during the holiday season.
Police are stopping law-abiding motorists and rewarding their good driving with $5 Starbucks gift cards.

A traffic officer came up with the idea to "promote the holiday spirit and enhance goodwill between the traffic unit and the motoring public," police Sgt. Tim Curran said.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5htAuRX-Y-ie1ld3CDzSeEX8XwH0AD8TJD4JO0

Yeah but

[iminplaya]

Are they still asking to see your "papers, please"?

Starbucks?

[Farmer Tim]

Doesn't that qualify as "cruel and unusual"?

Maybe it's the pessimist in me

[StalinsNotDead]

But I can see this going wrong somehow.

A recently stolen car with the driver obeying traffic laws to avoid suspicion. They get pulled over for good driving. Violence ensues.