WHITE HAVEN -- A police department in Luzerne County is citing children on bikes this summer, but there's a twist to the tickets they are giving out.
Police in White Haven, are giving tickets to young bike riders obeying the law. We've nicknamed them ice cream citations.
"We give them to every kid we see riding a bicycle with a helmet. If they are being safe doing the right thing, we cite them!" explained White Haven Police Chief Thomas Szoke.
If that sounds a little backwards, here's why: the penalty for the citation is ice cream!
"We took some heat in the beginning because people didn't understand about citing them, but once the idea got out and everyone understood it, it got a lot better."
Police caught up with some culprits right outside the Woods Ice Cream Shop.
Katelyn Yohey and her twin sister are repeat offenders.
"A lot of people try to get out then, wear their helmets and ride their bikes so they get a ticket."
They were happy to get their third citation, and along with a half dozen safe riders, pay the penalty.
This White Haven Police Department safe summer initiative seems to be working to not only make sure kids value safety, but also build positive relationships with police.
The White Haven Police Department runs this program all summer. It is sponsored by Woods Ice Cream.
The chief told us these ice cream citations are his favorite tickets to give out and no one ever seems to complain about getting them.
