Police bring drivers to tears with $100 bills, not tickets

Deborah Beach, of Bowling Green,, Kentucky, reacts after Sheriff’s Deputy Chris Shelton gave her a $100 bill after pulling her over on Louisville Road, Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. An anonymous donation to the Warren County Sheriff’s Office provided the funds. AP

FORSYTH, Georgia, United States — Sheriff’s deputies in a central Georgia county have been surprising motorists, some of whom expect a ticket.

Instead, they’ve gotten $100 bills.

The Telegraph reports that Monroe County Sheriff John Cary Bittick gave officers 54 $100 bills to hand out randomly over three days during the past week. The newspaper reports that the money came from an anonymous benefactor.

Bittick said the donor had seen the concept somewhere else, and thought it would be a great idea in light of tensions nationwide between police and the public.

The Telegraph reports that some of the recipients were so moved they broke into tears. But not everyone.

Deputy John Thompson said one motorist cussed him out before learning about the money, and she didn’t get a $100 bill.