Officers Catch Drivers in Acts of Kindness

When Fidel Gonzales saw the red and blue police lights flashing in his rearview mirror, his first thought was that maybe someone had planted drugs in his car.

“I knew I didn’t do anything wrong,” the 24-year-old Fillmore resident said, explaining his fear.

He pulled over and waited nervously as Moorpark Sheriff’s Deputy Mario Aguilar approached his Jeep.

“I’m not going to give you a ticket,” Aguilar said. “The reason I’m pulling you over is for being a courteous driver.”

Gonzales was the fifth driver this week to receive a Courteous Driver award, issued during the holiday season by the Moorpark Police Department in conjunction with the Moorpark Kiwanis Club. The citation is redeemable for more than $100 in gift certificates and coupons.

Gonzales was stopped after slowing his car to let an elderly couple cross the street, and for slowing a second time for a girl who had darted into a crosswalk.

He even pulled over politely, turning into a bus cutout to avoid blocking traffic on Moorpark Avenue.

“It was kind of funny, kind of an awkward situation,” said Gonzales, who is a professional photographer. “But I guess sometimes you need someone to drag you to the side of the road and tell you you’re doing something right.”

The Courteous Driver Program, in its second year, aims to focus on people who are working to avoid collisions.

“It puts a little more emphasis on doing the right thing during the holidays,” said Kiwanis President Roy Talley.

Although the citations have been generally well received, some drivers have not appreciated the gesture. Aguilar said a few drivers were angry that they were pulled over when they had not committed a violation.

And although some of these holiday stops reveal suspicious activity, no arrests can be made during those situations, because there is no legal reason for the stop, Moorpark Senior Deputy Kory Martinelli said.

Moorpark police will continue to pull over polite drivers through Monday. The drivers will receive certificates of recognition along with their prizes during an awards dinner next month.

The Ventura Police Department and one of its auxiliaries have a similar program, “Caught in the Act,” that rewards good drivers with a certificate for a free spaghetti dinner at Milano’s.