Those who were just a few miles above the speed limit were given the ‘Officer Grinch’ choice: an onion or a fine. “Because it is the holiday season, we give people who only slightly violated the speed limit the choice of a fine or an onion,” says Caputo. The vast majority of people stopped naturally opted for an onion – with the offenders having to hand it over. the heart was urged to slow down. “Even though you are busy, the road is also busy. Slow down. Let’s keep our children safe during the holidays.”
According to Caputo, the initiative was inspired by the Christmas classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” a 2000 film starring the Grinch (played by Jim Carrey), a green animal who loves onions. The character was created by Dr. Seuss.
The onion option caught many drivers off guard, but according to Caputo, it was eagerly taken up. Laughing: “If they had opted for the fine, we probably would have had to take them out and subject them to a sobriety test.”