Denver police offer help with repairs, rather than tickets

Motorists pulled over with minor vehicle issues get $25 in auto parts instead

Jil McIntosh

Jul 28, 2021 • July 28, 2021 • 1 minute read • Join the conversation

File photo of a police car. Photo by File /Postmedia

Sometimes a helping hand is much better than an iron fist, especially when it comes to minor auto repairs when you’re caught between paydays.

The police department in Denver, Colorado has initiated a program for this purpose. If someone gets pulled over for a minor vehicle issue, such as a burned-out taillight, the cop has an option to forego a ticket and instead hand out a $25 auto parts gift card to help get the problem fixed.

The program was set up in conjunction with Advance Auto Parts, which donated 100 of the $25 cards to the police. According to Denver Police chief Paul Pazen, it’s intended for police to work with the community, “and stronger communities are safer communities.”

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Advance Auto Parts is teaming up with #DPD to increase vehicle safety for motorists in #Denver by providing officers w/100 $25 gift cards to gift to drivers they contact in traffic safety enforcement efforts – affording recipients the means to repair minor vehicle safety issues. pic.twitter.com/VAeB8A3u2r
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) July 23, 2021

It’s not clear if the program will continue once the 100 gift cards are given to motorists, but it wouldn’t surprise us to see other auto parts chains getting involved for the good publicity.

Now we do realize that $25 doesn’t get you very far with an auto repair, but it’s a start. And if someone can’t afford to fix a broken light, then adding the cost of a ticket is going to make it worse — and if that ticket isn’t paid, it can lead to more serious consequences in court. Yes, the auto parts company is doing it for publicity, but if it helps someone who needs that car to get to work, we’re all for it.