© Kevin Lands / Facebook
In an era where "driving while black" is a common complaint ‒ meaning an African-American driver has committed no traffic violations but is still stopped by police ‒ the Halifax Police Department decided to engage in their own version of community policing.
As temperatures hit the 90s across southern Virginia, Halifax Police Chief Kevin Lands and Officer Brian Warner pulled over a woman.
"Are you aware of why I pulled you over today?" Warren asks in a video posted to the chief's Facebook page.
"No. I mean, no sir," she answers.
"Are you familiar with vehicle code 1739?" he then asks. The driver appears perplexed. "Well, it's actually against the law to drive on a hot day without an ice cream cone. So on behalf of the Halifax Police Department, we're just making sure everybody is following all the laws today and are driving with ice cream."
The woman begins laughing, visibly relieved. Warren and Lands then hand the driver and her passenger an ice cream cone.
The two officers offered the sweet treats because they "wanted to try and put some smiles on people's faces," Lands told WTKR.
For the record, there is no such law, in Halifax or the rest of the commonwealth. The relevant chapter of the Virginia vehicle code ‒ Chapter 17, on driver training schools ‒ only goes up to section 1707.
Reader Comments
She's lucky they didn't execute her.
Here ... instead of shooting you, take this little nugget of corporate garbage.
(I'll shoot you later ... )
cheap photo-op type stunt?
It reminds me of the obvious fake publicity stunt Erdogan pulled when he was filmed "rescuing" some guy from jumping off a bridge.
Maybe I'm just jaded, but this looks like a stunt to me. 2 huge burly tattooed white cops pulling over a black female driver to hand out an ice cream cone? And they just happen to have someone on hand to video the stunt?
No doubt it's better than harassing her, but it smells too much of a predator polishing up their mask of sanity to look saintly. Too contrived and unconconving.
reminds me of a south park episode where the characters are telling stories of abuse they have suffered. In each case the worst of the abuse is blocked out / forgotten and replaced with the memory of having ice cream.
The lady got an ice cream cone, and a reminder of who's the boss.
"Are you aware of why I pulled you over, scaring you and wasting your time today?"
"I just want you to remember who's in charge around here. Good girl, now here's an ice cream cone."