YOUNGSVILLE — On the last day of Christmas, your local police gave to you...gift cards!
Usually when you see the blue lights behind you, it usually means you've done something wrong. But some drivers in Youngsville received the opposite and may even be glad they were pulled over today. Erica Thibodeaux was headed into Walgreens when she heard the sound and saw the lights.
"I'm thinking 'Oh my gosh, what have we done wrong?" Thibodeaux said.
Except she didn't do anything wrong. These drivers did everything correctly.
"Well, Merry Christmas and thank you for being a good driver," Officer Louvena Landry says to a driver.
"Oh, thank you! I'm on the phone with my mom like I think I'm going to be late," the driver replied.
Landry drives around Youngsville surprising cautious, law-abiding drivers with gift cards. Chance Zimoski was pulling into Walgreens when he saw Landry pull
"I got out and handed her my license, I kind of saw she had something in her hands, but it didn't click. Then she's like, 'Thank you for being a good driver and Merry Christmas,' so that shocked me," Zimoski said.
This is the second year Landry has done this. It's something she says she enjoys doing.
"The best thing is to make someone's day. When they're rewarded with good behavior it really helps to bring up moral, just in general," explained Landry.
"We're super excited that's some Christmas spirit!" Thibodeaux said.
The gifts cards are donated by businesses in the city. The gift card giveaway has been a tradition since 2015. The Youngsville Police Department says that the program has been rewarding, as it promotes positive relations with the community.
"It's our way of giving back to our community that is so giving to our department throughout the year," a release from YPD says.
