The Highway Patrol sergeant pulls over when he sees a driver flagging him down. The driver runs up to the sergeant waving a paper in his hand.

"I want to pay this, sir," says the man as he hands over a traffic ticket together with some money.

Surprised, the sergeant looks at the ticket. It’s for driving 15 miles over the speed limit and the money is the correct amount of bond. The ticket was issued nearly three weeks ago.

The sergeant gives the man a receipt. The man looks confused, asking, "Where’s my spare tire? I was supposed to get a spare tire when I paid my ticket."

"You’d better drive on before I take you to the magistrate’s office right now," says the sergeant.

During the next few weeks other troopers have similar experiences. Drivers want to pay bond for their tickets. After getting a receipt, each wants to know when he will get his prize.

One driver says he is supposed to get a wrist watch, another expects a dinnerware service for ten. Supervisors confer while examining the "premium" tickets. All are issued by Trooper Winfrey.

Winfrey’s explanation is simple. "These are all out of state drivers and I knew they’d be in no hurry to pay their tickets. I offered them an incentive plan to pay the tickets early. This was sort of a premium for prompt payment."

The sergeant said he remembered hearing his mother talking about dinner plates, cups and saucers given away at movie theaters many years ago. Trooper Winfrey nods as the sergeant tells his story.

"But that was then and this is now!" says the sergeant, with fire gleaming in his eyes. "You are no longer in the premium business, Trooper Winfrey. Your speeders will pay fines just like everybody else - but no more premiums."