A big rig driver was fined for “unauthorized additional lighting” after having decorated his semi-truck with Christmas lights. Kansas State Highway Patrol trooper Andrew Mai fined the driver after pulling him over on Tuesday. It wasn’t long before people on social media had dubbed the trooper “Scrooge” and “Officer Grinch.” Fellow state trooper Ben Gardner came to Mai’s defense, explaining that the festive lights are dangerous because other drivers may slow down, assuming the truck is an emergency vehicle. “This split-second reaction could create confusion and even lead to a dangerous traffic crash,” said Garner. He went on to explain that while he appreciates the holiday cheer, we need to keep the roads safe for everyone. Social media users were divided over whether the festive truck was a joyful reminder of the holidays or a hindrance to public safety. Some challenged Trooper Gardner’s explanation that the truck could be confused with an emergency vehicle. “No way will that confuse me as an emergency vehicle, and I’m 70!” said one user. The wife of a trucker commented that tickets have a huge impact on truckers’ CSA scores, not to mention that the driver could get fired. “Was a simple TURN OFF YOUR LIGHTS not an option?” she wrote. Ironically, there’s nothing on the books in Kansas that bans Christmas lights.
