A police officer’s job is to protect the community, and perhaps nowhere is their job more important than on the streets. When the red and blue lights of a police car start flashing, every motorist knows someone is about to feel the long arm of the law and hopes it’s not them. But it’s not every day you see a three-year-old child get arrested by the police. That’s exactly what happened one Sunday in March 2017 when Nathan Snow, a toddler from Fort McMurray, Canada, was enjoying some fresh air with his parents.
The Snow family had spent the afternoon at the local playground, taking their Pomeranian dog, Lacy. But on the way back, the unexpected happened. A police car appeared with its lights flashing, flooding the scene with red and blue. The family realized the officer was trying to arrest them for something they had done, but they couldn’t figure out what. The officer then rolled down his window and spoke to the parents. What he said left them perplexed.
Specifically, the officer commented, “Hey, would you mind if I arrested him?” The officer was referring to their three-year-old son, who was driving a battery-powered toy truck down the street. Her parents agreed to the request, then stood back and watched the whole scene unfold. Nathan was sitting in his kid-sized Ford F-150, minding his own business, with the family dog, Lucy, sitting in the back of the mini van. The view was undeniably adorable.
The officer got out of his vehicle and approached the toddler holding a piece of paper. He approached little Nathan and showed him what the newspaper said. After leaning over to speak to the three-year-old, he explained, “It’s a ticket for going too fast,” as if it were a real traffic stop. However, it was clear that this was no ordinary ticket. The pink paper did not specify any fines Nathan had to pay. Instead, it simply stated the reason for the stop: “Too fast.”
But there was no money involved. Instead, the policeman proposed a unique punishment for the little boy. After handing out the ticket, the officer explained the consequences: “When you get home, you have to help your mother do the laundry for the ticket. » The toddler, a little confused by the situation, simply said “Okay” and accepted the ticket. With the pink paper in one hand, Nathan shook the cop’s hand with the other before receiving a pat on the head. And that’s how Nathan’s first encounter with the law ended.
Nathan’s parents told CBC News in March 2017 that their son, aged just three, did not fully understand who the police officer was. Nonetheless, he seemed to enjoy the experience. “When the lights came on, he looked around like a deer in headlights. He took his paper and was very excited,” his mother explained. Nathan’s parents also found the situation hilarious. They filmed the encounter on a cell phone and uploaded it to Facebook, where it was quickly viewed thousands of times.
The video later appeared on YouTube via the Inside Edition account, titled “Cop Arrests 3-Year-Old for Speeding in Toy Convertible.” The clip has more than 150,000 views, with many commenters praising the officer’s sense of humor. “It’s good to see the police officers having fun at work. Everyone needs good days,” one user wrote. However, as is often the case on the Internet, not everyone was amused. Some critics felt the interaction was a waste of police time. “Seems like a waste of time for the cops to do this as part of their job,” one viewer commented. Others expressed harsher views. One person even complained, “If I had done that, I would have been taken to jail without insurance or a license.” Just because it’s a toy doesn’t mean they [Nathan] have the privilege of riding on the street.
Beyond the video, Nathan’s mother, Heather Snow, also uploaded a photo of the “speeding ticket” to Facebook. It also sparked discussion, with some users praising the parents for letting the police officer arrest their son. For example, Frank Sparks commented: “He is trained by parents who are good role models. It’s worth more than most people think. Thanks for sharing it and raising a good little man. Heather expressed her delight at reading the comment, especially since others had been more critical. “I needed to hear this today after seeing some nasty comments about my parenting,” she responded.
Ultimately, no one was hurt during the incident, and the adorable encounter probably brought smiles to thousands of people. The experience may have even taught little Nathan a little bit of road safety, a lesson it’s never too early to learn. If you liked this story, please give it a like and share it with someone who might find it interesting. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more heartwarming stories.
