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Date: 10/4/2023
WESTFIELD — Given a choice between getting a traffic citation for an equipment violation or a $10 gift card from Advance Auto Parts, which would most choose?
Patrol officers of the Westfield Police Department will soon be giving that option, thanks to a donation from the national auto parts chain store.
“This is an outstanding community policing endeavor that will help keep people safe,” said Police Capt. Steve Dickinson about the program it will roll out this fall with a $1,000 donation from Advance Auto Parts.
Police Sgt. Doug LaValley heard about the program during a training seminar several months ago by an Advance Auto Parts representative, according to Dickinson.
“He thought it would be a great idea,” Dickinson said of LaValley, who successfully presented the program to the department’s administration.
He said if an officer makes a stop for a vehicle equipment violation, the officer will have the option of providing the motorist with a $10 gift card from the auto parts store instead of writing them a ticket. The program does not include moving violations, only equipment problems such as a failed taillight, license plate light or headlight.
“This is especially important in today’s economy with people struggling to just stay ahead and help them out with minor things that need to be fixed,” Dickinson said. “It’s even more important to help out financially with the coming holiday season.”
While acknowledging the positive press Advance Auto Parts gets from the program, he said officers offering gift cards can also create a positive experience between the department and the community.
Dickinson said the Advance Auto Parts gift card program is much like a bicycle safety program from several years ago. He said Friendly’s provided patrol officers with gift certificates for a scoop of ice cream, and when patrolling officers spotted children wearing a helmet while riding, they would award them with a gift certificate for being safety conscious.
The program will formally kick off with a press conference at Advance Auto Parts, 282 E. Main St., Westfield, at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 6.