The Pantego Police Department is offering drivers who commit minor traffic offenses this month the chance to make up for their wrongdoing by donating a toy.
Through mid-December, drivers who commit traffic offenses like brake light out and expired registration will be issued a warning and a flier explaining the 'Cops for Kids' program.
"In lieu of being issued a citation, we ask that you'll donate an unwrapped toy to our police department," Officer Stephen Meinke said to a driver he stopped for not properly securing his trailer with safety chains.
The toys will later be given to children at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth.
Last year, the police department — along with a local business who helps with the program — collected nearly 1,500 toys.
"We want to give something to the community," Pantego Police Chief Tom Griffith said about the fifth annual "Pantego Cops for Kids" program. "We want to show the community that we're part of it, and that we're not just out to penalize people for violating the law."
Pantego has a population of about 2,400 people.
