Police fine man $232 for his Christmas lights-covered car
BEAUFORT, South Carolina (KTRK) -- Many people use lights to decorate their homes, trees and lawns around the holidays.
One man took it a step farther and now it's gotten him in trouble.
"I just like to see people's reactions, spread a little love, joy. I call it 'spread the glow,'" said Brandon Wooden.
Wooden has been decorating his car with holiday lights for the past 5 years.
"It took me 4 hours this year," he said. "Actually, this year me and my sister busted it out real quick."
Wooden attaches the strings with simple packing tape and he has cords hooked up to a converter inside the car. With the flip of a switch, the car can glow.
"People usually follow me for a few miles, videotape me, Snapchat, stop me and tell me to pull over on the side of the road to take a picture," he explained. "I do it. It's awesome!"
However, the police aren't as thrilled. Wooden was pulled over and given a ticket, but it wasn't his first time catching law enforcement's attention.
"The first time they only pulled me over because they wanted to take pictures of the car. The second time it was a warning, and the third time was for improper lighting of a vehicle."
It cost him a hefty $232.00 citation.
When people in the community found out about the ticket, they decided to start a GoFundMe to help him pay it off.
"I was getting my haircut and I guess her husband looked out the window and saw the car and said 'Oh my god it's that car' and she said 'Whose car is that?,'" Wooden recalls. "I raised my hand and she started freaking out. And we got a haircut together and were talking about it. It was awesome. She was a very nice lady."
The citation has not stopped Wooden from keeping his days full of holiday spirit. He still has every light taped on his car.
"I love doing it for the people and my son, of course, he loves it."
As of Tuesday afternoon, the GoFundMe has already met the goal of $300.00 which will cover the citation and all the website fees.
WJCL spoke with Beaufort Police and they said improper lighting on a vehicle is both a safety hazard and against the law.
