Wear your bike helmet, get a ticket. Help your sibling? Get a ticket. Make a smart choice? That was a ticket too.
From July 2 through to Sept. 10 the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP have been handing out positive tickets to youth when they spot them doing the right thing in the community. The tickets are paired with a coupon for a free treat thanks to the cooperation of the Municipality of North Cowichan, Dairy Queen and the Big Scoop, and Cowichan Community Policing and Crime Prevention.
Thus far it’s been a success.
“Overall it’s been a very well received program with great feedback from community members,” said Cpl. Jean Gelderblom, the officer in charge of community engagement. “Most of the tickets were issued for wearing a bike helmet while cycling, several for helping a parent or a sibling with a task, or making a variety of good choices.”
In July roughly 75 positive tickets were issued, with another 50 or so handed out in August. It’s not to late to get a positive ticket either. Police will keep their eye out for youth doing good until Sept. 10.
All told, by the end of the initiative, members will have handed out 150 positive tickets to youth in the community.
Those who’ve received a ticket have been entered into a grand-prize draw with the draw taking place Sept. 25.
sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
