The Clay County Sheriff’s Office kicked off its No Ticket, Let’s Fix It initiative on Wednesday, July 2, to promote positive interactions between law enforcement and residents.

Instead of issuing a ticket for minor equipment law violations like broken head lamps or turn signal lights, deputies will give drivers a $10 gift card to a local auto parts store to get the replacement part.

“Despite what some may think, we don’t enjoy giving out tickets,” said Community Interaction Sergeant Megan Blackburn, who spearheaded No Ticket, Let’s Fix It. “But it is a part of the job to keep people safe and hold them accountable to the law. This is a way we can inform our citizens of a minor infraction and help give them a way to fix it.”

No Ticket, Let’s Fix It is only possible thanks to generous Clay County auto parts stores that donated the gift cards, including O’Reilly Auto Parts stores in Excelsior Springs, Gladstone, Kearney, Liberty (Liberty O’Reilly employees even contributed from their own pockets) and Smithville; as well as Auto Zone in Liberty.

The program will last until deputies distribute all the gift cards.

KPGZ News – Sarah Boyd contributed to this story.