South Australian Cop Caught Offering $30 Gift Card For Officer Who Gave Out Most Traffic Fines

There can sometimes be an unhealthy relationship between Aussies and police officers.

While cops do their utmost to protect and serve the community, their actions can come under fire by angry citizens.

There's a running joke that the only reason police officers do random breath tests is to raise revenue. That's never been proven, however an incident that's been revealed in South Australia certainly doesn't look good for the force.

South Australia Police/Facebook

According to South Australia Police (SAPOL), a manager had bought a $30 Coles Myer gift card with their own money and was prepared to give it to the officer who handed out the most amount of traffic fines.

Now, we know what you're thinking, that's ridiculous and would have to be against some law or rule within the force. Well, SAPOL has released a statement, wholeheartedly condemning the action.

"SAPOL has no quotas for the issuing of expiation notices and never has," the statement read.

"The practice of offering incentives is not supported or condoned. Police officers dealing with breaches of the road rules have the discretion to determine the most appropriate action under the circumstances. This may include the issue of an expiation notice or a formal caution (warning).

"A SAPOL manager recently directed an email to some staff offering an incentive to the police officer who made the greatest contribution to road safety by way of Traffic Infringement Notice Expiations or Cautions issued as a part of the current traffic operation 'Operation Fatal Distraction'.

South Australia Police/Facebook

"The operation commenced on Monday 5 August and concludes on 9 August, 2019 and focuses on motorists committing distraction based offences in relation to mobile phone use, interacting with social media and any other behaviour which may cause inattention.

"The incentive offered was a gift card purchased by the manager from their own funds. Such a practice is not SAPOL policy and is not permitted.

"The email instruction has been recalled and SAPOL staff have been advised that the advice in the email is not to be actioned and is contrary to SAPOL's policy and practices."

The statement ended with the revelation that the matter was under a formal review and you only imagine the spray this manager will get.

South Australia Police is still conducting the blitz on people using their mobile phones while driving and warn motorists caught doing the wrong thing can expect a fine of more than $450 so don't say you weren't warned.

Topics: Police, News, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

@stewartperrie