Police issue Thanksgiving turkeys instead of tickets for minor traffic violations

— -- If you got pulled over in Billings, Montana this week, you may have gotten a turkey instead of a ticket.

Officers Brandon Ihde, Andrew Sanders and Eric Schnelbach of the Billings Police Department's traffic enforcement team pulled over drivers Wednesday and let them go with a warning, along with a frozen bird.

Lieutenant Neil Lawrence told ABC News that this was the first year that the department made the Thanksgiving gesture.

"The individuals that received the warnings and the turkeys have been very happy," Lawrence said. "Our Facebook page has received a lot of positive comments regarding it. So far its been a very positive thing for the community."

Only drivers who committed minor traffic violations were let off the hook with a Thanksgiving turkey.

"The turkeys were handed to, let's say, someone going over the speed limit a few miles an hour or rolling through a stop sign," Lawrence explained.

Lawrence said a local businessman, who is remaining anonymous, donated 20 turkeys for police to hand out for families in Billings.