Milan Mayor hopes to spread Christmas cheer

MILAN, Tenn — A sound no driver wants to hear.

Traffic stops in the city of Milan will sound a little differently.

Drivers pulled over for minor incidents will have a chance to to get a holiday forgiveness pass.

“Our police department, when they pull people over for minor infractions many times we give a warning ticket but during the holidays we’re giving a ten percent discount card to shop in Milan,” Milan Mayor B.W. Beasley said.

It is called the Mayor’s Safe Driving Shopping Campaign and Mayor Beasley hopes it will drive people to local businesses.

“We really want to introduce these great shops we have in Milan and we want our police department to recognize safe driving,” Mayor Beasley said.

Milan Police Chief Bobby Sellers agrees.

“We want to reward good behavior so if someone has a good driving record it’s a way during the holidays for them to get a break instead of getting a citation,” Chief Sellers said.

Although this just went into effect, Chief Sellers said the community is already appreciative.

“I had an officer tell me that he pulled a guy over for a minor infraction and the guy was really stressed out and had a lot on him and was crying and was visibly shaken,” Chief Sellers said.

Then came a holiday miracle.

“Because of his driving record, it was a good driving record the officer pulled out the card the discount card and it just really changed that man’s day.” Chief Sellers said.

Milan police officers will be handing these discount cards out until December 31.

Drivers can redeem them at participating stores until January 31.