Tuesday, 24 December, 2002, 18:50 GMT

Joyful and triumphant Tennessee motorists stopped by police for speeding are avoiding fines by singing their way out of trouble.

Some 55 traffic violators have benefited from a three-year-old tradition on the last court date before Christmas in the southern US state, the Associated Press reports.

This is a good day to come to court - I hope you like to sing

Police officer Kenneth Lovet

If they sing a carol and donate five canned goods to a harvest charity collection, Judge Tom DuBois in Columbia lets them off with no points on their driving record.

Clifford Jones avoided a fine after singing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

"I'm a little shy, but not about saving a dollar. It was a pretty good Christmas present," he said.

Carol singing was not enough penance for some violations, however, including seat belt or child safety violations.

Donald Hatler, who sang Jingle Bells, said his court performance was "a little embarrassing".

"I don't have the best singing voice in the world, but it was worth it," he said.

-- Anonymous, December 24, 2002