Monroe County Sheriff's Office Col. Lou Caputo, right, costumed as the Grinch, surprises a motorist with an onion instead of a traffic citation in a school zone on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, in Marathon, Fla. During the holiday season, Caputo provides motorists who slightly speed in the zone the option of a traffic citation or an onion. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau/HO)
MARATHON, Fla. (AP/WSVN) — Motorists who slightly exceed the speed limit through selected school zones on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway during the holidays might merely get an onion from the Grinch instead of a costly traffic citation.
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Col. Lou Caputo donned the Grinch costume Tuesday afternoon and stood beside deputies as they aimed a speed radar gun at motorists traveling by a Keys elementary school.
Caputo says he portrays the fictional character created by children’s author Dr. Seuss to give motorists a “gift” but also to emphasize obeying speed limits in school zones.
“We want people to be aware they’re in the school zone and there are dangers with our kids out in school and we don’t want them at risk,” Caputo said. “So slow it down when you’re in a school zone.”
Drivers caught who travel about 5 mph or less above the school zone speed limit have their choice of the onion or a ticket.
Those speeding beyond that likely get a citation.
Caputo and Sheriff’s Office deputies have been staging Grinch speed enforcement details in selected Keys school zones for about 15 years.
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Orlando Alvarez, left, aims a radar speed gun next to Col. Lou Caputo, right, in an elementary school zone on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, in Marathon, Fla. During the holiday season, Caputo dresses as the Grinch to provide motorists who slightly speed in the zone the option of a traffic citation or an onion. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau/HO)
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Col. Lou Caputo, costumed as the Grinch, waves to motorists on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway in Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, Marathon, Fla. During the holiday season. At left, Deputy Andrew Leird uses a radar gun to check vehicle speeds through a Keys elementary school speed zone. Caputo provides motorists who slightly speed in the zone the option of a traffic citation or an onion. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau/HO)
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Col. Lou Caputo, right, costumed as the Grinch, surprises a motorist with an onion instead of a traffic citation in a school zone on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, in Marathon, Fla. During the holiday season, Caputo provides motorists who slightly speed in the zone the option of a traffic citation or an onion. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau/HO)
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Col. Lou Caputo, left, has some fun with Deputy Willie Guerra as he aims a radar speed gun in a school zone on the Florida Keys Overseas Highway Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017, in Marathon, Fla. During the holiday season, Caputo dresses as the Grinch to provide motorists who slightly speed in the zone the option of a traffic citation or an onion. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau/HO)
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