By Samantha Perry
Bluefield Daily Telegraph, W. Va.
PRINCETON, W. Va. — Elizabeth Bittle showed obvious concern when she saw the West Virginia State Police trooper and his blue lights behind her in a traffic stop in a parking lot off Route 460 in Glenwood.
Bittle, a Bluefield resident, was slightly speeding when Senior Trooper D.B. Whited pulled in behind her. Her 7-year-old daughter, Olivia, was in the back seat along with German shepherd Max.
Five minutes later, Bittle’s worry turned to tears of joy when she was given a warning and handed a crisp $100 bill.
In what has become an annual tradition at the State Police Princeton detachment, “Santa stops” were conducted Friday by troopers who handed out cash instead of tickets.
Bittle called the unexpected gift “a blessing.”
“It’s amazing,” said Bittle, a single mother to four children. “I was getting ready to take my paycheck and spend it on Christmas — but it’s not enough. This will provide Christmas dinner or stocking stuffers.”
Bittle said she had no idea the Santa Stops were underway. “I was speeding … trying to get everything done for Christmas.”
Throughout the interview with Bittle, Senior Trooper Whited smiled in the background.
Santa Stops have been conducted by troopers at the Princeton detachment since 2014 when an anonymous donor brought in ten $100 bills and asked that they be given out to random drivers. The tradition has continued since then.
Initially, troopers were able to pull over any motorist they felt could use a little extra cash. But a 2016 Supreme Court ruling put the brakes on that practice. In a memo to law enforcement agencies at that time, then-Mercer County Prosecuting Attorney Scott Ash pointed out that these stops are a violation of the Fourth Amendment, even though officers are simply committing “random acts of kindness.”
The high court case did not involve a “Santa stop,” but an incident in Monongalia County in which an officer stopped a motorist to ask him if he had seen a suspect in a domestic violence incident who was on foot. The motorist was then cited for driving on a revoked license and driving under the influence.
Ash said in 2016 that if a local trooper or officer pulled someone over to give them cash or a gift card and then smelled alcohol on the driver’s breath, any DUI charge would likely be thrown out of court.
“Building community relations, particularly during the holidays, is a terrific idea,” Ash stated in the earlier memo. “I hope you can continue this custom in a creative way that does not invoke the Fourth Amendment.”
State troopers have done just that.
On Friday, Whited was looking for expired stickers and tags. He found just that on Glenwood Park Road.
Todd Bailey was en route to pick up his son, Jordan, at Glenwood School when the blue lights came on behind him. His expression showed shock and amazement when he was handed cash instead of a ticket.
“I had a dead tag and got a $100 bill,” Bailey said.
His wife, Juleigh Bailey, said it was a “nice surprise” at Christmas.
Juleigh then hesitated, and noted, “We’re OK. Could another family use it more?”
After a conversation with Whited, the Baileys said they would be donating the money to the Salvation Army.
Whited said he enjoys doing the Santa Stops because it allows him to interact with residents in a favorable situation. Normally, State Troopers are called in when negative events occur.
“For me, it’s different to get to interact with people in a positive way,” Whited said. “It’s a way to give back to the community. I love doing it. That’s why I volunteer every year.”
Whited’s final stop of the day was Caren East, who was also slightly speeding on Route 460.
East, of Orlando, Fla., was born and raised in Spanishburg and “home for Christmas.”
The passenger in the car was her sister, Stacey East.
Both East women were enthusiastic and smiling after the $100 gift, and said it would come in handy after a day of shopping for their parents.
“We’re here for Christmas,” Caren East said. “But we’re doing a surprise 50th anniversary party for our parents tomorrow. We were out shopping, and just dropped $200 at the store.”
Whited finished his Santa Stops Friday afternoon. Pulling back into the Princeton detachment parking lot, he was still smiling. “It’s great to get to be positive with people.”
Sgt. M.S. Haynes, Cpl. P.H. Shrewsbury and Trooper First Class J.R. Tupper also participated in the Santa Stops.
©2017 the Bluefield Daily Telegraph (Bluefield, W.Va.)