Red Deer RCMP are looking for kids to ticket this summer and the ‘fines’ are going to be delicious. As RCMP members go about their daily policing duties, they will also be handing out positive tickets to youth 12-years-old and younger who police see doing something good for the community. The tickets kids receive will be coupons for free ice cream, fries, drinks and other treats, donated by McDonald’s, Tim Hortons and Wendy’s restaurants in Red Deer.

“Kids could receive a positive ticket for a variety of reasons,” said Const. Sumit Bishnoi with Red Deer RCMP. “It may be for an act of kindness, for picking up litter, for wearing a bike helmet or other safety-conscious behaviour. Our point with positive ticketing is to encourage community-minded behaviours in youth, and to recognize and reward that behaviour when we see it.”

He added positive ticketing affirms behaviours that benefit the community, and it provides RCMP members with a great way to initiate positive encounters with youth. With around 400 tickets to hand out from the three sponsoring restaurants, Red Deer RCMP will be looking for a lot of community-minded kids for the rest of the summer.

“The biggest part of the program is to develop those positive relationships between the police and children and youth in the community,” said Cpl. Leanne Molzahn. “In a lot of cases police are doing their enforcement and responding to calls and they don’t have many opportunities to have that one-on-one interaction. This is just a great way to interact with children and youth in the community and also to encourage doing the right thing whether it’s kids wearing their bike helmet or seeing them help someone who needs assistance, that sort of thing.”

efawcett@reddeerexpress.com