Cop pulls over giant banana car; gives driver $20

Getting pulled over on the highway can cost you some green. Unless your driving a yellow banana.

Steve Braithwaite has been touring America in a banana-shaped convertible for two years, according to his Big Banana Car website.

He was recently departing Michigan behind the wheel of his home-made fruit sculpture when a state trooper pulled up behind him and flipped on the red and blue lights.

“We had a nice chat as he checked my headlights, brakelights and indicators,” Braithwaite said on his Facebook page.

“He must have read the board at the back of the banana car,” Braithwaite wrote, “because when he returned and handed my licence back he had wrapped a $20 bill around it wishing me safe travels.”

Braithwaite didn’t get the law officer’s name but Michigan State Police on Friday revealed it was Trooper Bill Strouse, who is just a few months from retirement.

“As a trooper, you never quite know what you’re going to see each day,” they posted on Facebook.

Braithwaite offers rides in his topless, tropical touring car and it manages to earn him enough to continue exploring the country.

“One gentleman and his two children gave me a bunch of coins that might have totaled 70 cents,” Braithwaite told the Washington Post, “And then the very next rider took his two kids and gave me three $20 bills!”

Western Pennsylvania residents may have spotted the whimsical vehicle at the Banana Split Festival in Latrobe this summer.

Today I'm at the Banana Split festival in Latrobe PA.
Its a lovely day so come and say hi if you're in the area.

Tomorrow (25th August) I'll be giving rides at the Dairy Queen in Latrobe.
Come and take a ride and pay what you think is right. https://t.co/lRFiKdrj4t pic.twitter.com/HASPgXZN5q

— Big Banana Car (@bigbananacar) August 24, 2019

The Big Banana Car, based on a 1993 Ford F-150 pickup, is wisely keeping to the warmer regions this time of year but you can catch up with it via social media.