Editor’s note: Scroll down for an important update to this post.

Today’s episode of “What Could Possibly Go Wrong?” comes to us from Tempe, Arizona, where cops are deploying a new strategy to promote traffic safety:

Today, Police are kicking off a campaign to promote good driving. Officers will be pulling people over who are following traffic laws…but instead of a ticket you'll get a coupon for a free drink at Circle K-give us your reaction to this new initiative below! #TODAYinAZ pic.twitter.com/sP0AjvHFU7 — 12 News (@12News) July 29, 2019

Yeah, this couldn’t end badly at all.

Bad ideas are afoot at the Circle K https://t.co/TmbCHcX8gu — David Rutz (@DavidRutz) July 29, 2019

This is a terrible idea ??? https://t.co/5o8FJt9h9N — Bitcoin & Black America OUT NOW!! (@bitcoinzay) July 29, 2019

This is an insanely bad & illegal idea. — A (@Aposter1228) July 29, 2019

It is illegal for the police to stop you for driving legally. https://t.co/kB4lrOe5im — Brad Heath (@bradheath) July 29, 2019

how dumb do Arizona police think people are "we are going to profile people but pretend it's promoting good driving" — generic white dude (@hismayoness) July 29, 2019

GTFO. This is a way for police to pull people over without probable cause and if they catch anything in the car, win for them. At worse, a colossal waste of tax payer dollars. https://t.co/d5RwYzdvfN — Robert Beezer (@PatriotBeezer) July 29, 2019

This is trash and just an excuse for them to get around probable cause. — TGB (@twitersgoodboy) July 29, 2019

Also, cops are forever going on about how traffic stops are among the most dangerous things they do. They never no when one will go bad. It's been used to justify force in the past. But they're apparently not so dangerous they can't be used for cutesy PR I guess. — Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) July 29, 2019

Because causing unnecessary anxiety is something cops think is OK. https://t.co/x2OdsWDmiU — Franklin Harris (@FranklinH3000) July 29, 2019

"you're under arrest FOR BEING A GOOD CITIZEN" https://t.co/Icg5tgiPQJ — BigMcLrgHuge (@BigMcLrgHuge) July 29, 2019

Or maybe even a fabulous all-expenses paid vacation to the county lockup for having 0.03 grams of weed in your glove boxhttps://t.co/XUKpnpSpHh — David Burge (@iowahawkblog) July 29, 2019

Can't wait for someone to go to jail for something that police find during a search that came about because they found reasonable cause during a "good driving" stop… https://t.co/H4e0DtmPzx — Alexandra F. Baldwin (@VerumVulnero1) July 29, 2019

Not pictured: the 12 year old black kid that was face down and cuffed on the sidewalk because he didn't show the police proper respect when they stopped him for riding his bike according to traffic laws. https://t.co/H4e0DtmPzx — Alexandra F. Baldwin (@VerumVulnero1) July 29, 2019

People have places to be. This is stupid. It’s also unsafe. — Adam McG (@sg1archive) July 29, 2019

I think the reward should be that, when you flee the cops trying to pull you over for this, they don't pursue you. ?https://t.co/L1ja9G7ECk — ryuge (@0ryuge) July 29, 2019

If they tase you you should at least get a free iPad https://t.co/HiauRJ3bxP — Allahpundit (@allahpundit) July 29, 2019

If they shoot your dog during a raid, you get a coupon for a free drink *and* a doughnut https://t.co/HiauRJ3bxP — Allahpundit (@allahpundit) July 29, 2019

They really should not be pulling people over for this. This will not end well. — Reddened64 (@Reddened64) July 29, 2019

Rethink this, Tempe Police.

***

Update:

Well, this is interesting:

So we’ve been talking about @TempePolice issuing “tickets” for following traffic laws pertaining to bicycles and pedestrians. They’ve clarified they’re not going to physically pull people over. That wasn’t originally clear in their release on the campaign. Release is below: pic.twitter.com/vZLAN5ICsu — Colleen Sikora (@ColleenSikora) July 29, 2019

Really? And they just forgot to mention that part?

How did this make it on air or out of editing with such a huge mistake? You didn’t just rely on a press release for a story or a tweet, right? You actually talked to a real person before reporting this, yes? — Justin McLachlan (@justinmclachlan) July 29, 2019

Did you not ask them any questions? Did you not read this press release and think “huh, this sounds potentially unconstitutional.” Do your job and investigate before you uncritically report. — Matt (@DysClaimer) July 29, 2019

Seems they missed a pretty important detail in this story. ? Do journalists do *any* due diligence before reporting?https://t.co/eSafIPAJxe — Cody (@Cody_from_Iowa) July 29, 2019

The campaign is called “positive TICKETING.” Words matter. If there’s no plan to pull people over and give them “tickets,” then don’t use “ticketing” to describe your campaign. — Fernanda Santos (@ByFernandaS) July 29, 2019

How are they giving out the tickets? Sounds like they are bullshitting after getting a negative reaction to their awful idea. — Vincent Price Died For Your Sins (@thejuice45) July 29, 2019

Editor’s note: The headline of this post has been amended in light of the clarification (which is still strange) in the update. Initially it quoted someone calling the Tempe Police’s idea “illegal,” but according to the clarification, their initiative would not technically be illegal. Or something.

***

Update: