Sofia Traffic Police Hands Out Presents, Instead of Fines

On New Year's Eve Sofia traffic police hands out presents to motorists with minor violations, instead of fining them, reports BGNES.

The presents - hats, scarves, small souvenirs or post cards were handed out by the Interior Ministry employees' trade union, wishing the drivers to be more careful next year. The children in the cars were also getting presents - stuffed toys with the trade union's logo and a card.

According to Ivaylo Desev of the trade union, the practice of giving presents to the motorists was not very popular. In Bulgaria the traffic police hands out presents in Sofia, Pleven, Blagoevgrad and Pernik.