(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

BUSINESSES ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE

Ponoka’s positive ticketing rewards youth for safe behaviours

Jul 3, 2024 | 2:18 PM

The Town of Ponoka’s Community Peace Officer (CPO) hopes to hand out a lot of tickets this summer, but it’s not the type of ticket you might expect.

“We’re rolling out a Positive Ticketing Program that focuses on the youth in our community over the summer months and rewards them for demonstrating safe behaviour for doing things like wearing a helmet, or using proper hand signals, and riding on the correct side of the road when riding their bike,” says Stuart Larson, protective services manager for the Town of Ponoka.

Over the past few weeks, the Town’s CPO has already started handing out positive tickets for the safe practices he observes on a daily basis.

“He’s having a lot of fun with it. His role is usually focused on trying to help citizens correct behaviours that violate provincial traffic laws or town bylaws – either by educating them about the requirements of legislation and bylaws, or through enforcement when needed,” says Larson. “It’s a lot more fun to hand out tickets that reward people for doing the right thing.”

In addition to rewarding safe behaviour, the Positive Ticketing Program aims to foster positive relationships with youth in the community and demonstrate the positive side of law enforcement.

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“Our goal is to encourage positive interactions and continue to develop positive relationships between our citizens, our Community Peace Officer and our community as a whole,” says Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson, noting that the Positive Ticketing Program helps demonstrate that the purpose of Ponoka’s CPO Program is to help create a safer community. “We’d much rather use education and positive programs like this to achieve that whenever possible,” he says.

The Town of Ponoka’s Community Peace Officer Program has been in place for just under two years.

Local businesses interested in participating in the Positive Ticketing Program are welcome to donate vouchers for gifts that can be given out as rewards to youth who receive a positive ticket.

“It’s an opportunity for them to promote their business,” says Ferguson, explaining that the businesses’ logos would be printed on the positive tickets that are handed out.

Businesses that want to participate in the program can contact the Town Office at 403-783-4431.

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