The flashing lights of a police car behind you on the road may not be a bad thing in Little Elm.

The town’s police department, with help from the Little Elm Police Officers Association, is launching a new incentive program this month to encourage safe driving, handing out gift cards rather than tickets, said Little Elm police Sgt. Brad Wilcox.

Local businesses including Starbucks, Sonic and Firehouse Subs donated gift cards and coupons to the program started by association president and officer Matt Mentemeier. 

The police department’s 23 officers will look for drivers abiding often-overlooked laws like stopping completely at a stop sign and using a turn signal to change lanes.

“People always say we only notice what they’re doing wrong,” Sgt. Wilcox said.  “Now we’re trying to notice what they’re doing right.”

According to Sgt. Wilcox, the department gives out 400 tickets a month and responds to about 200 traffic accidents a year— numbers, he said, the program intends to decrease.

Sgt. Wilcox on Monday made the first two good-driver stops -- one for properly using a turn signal, the other for wearing a seat belt.

“The man wearing a seat belt said it was a bright ending to a bad Monday,” Sgt. Wilcox said.

Officers will evaluate the program’s effectiveness at the end of the year, deciding whether to make it an annual endeavor.