1.
HIGH ANGLE POLICEMEN AT TRAFFIC CONTROL POST.
0.05

2.
SV ABOVE WITH GIFTS.
0.08

3.
CU SIGN EPIPHANY '65
0.11

4.
CU POLICEMAN DIRECTING TRAFFIC TILT TO GIFT ON GROUND.
0.16

5.
SV DITTO, GIFTS IN B/G.
0.21

6.
CU POLICEMAN
0.24

7.
MV TRUCK DRIVER HANDS GIFT TO POLICEMAN.
0.31

8.
MV POLICEMAN DIRECTING.
0.33

9.
MV MORE GIFT LEFT WITH OTHERS.
0.36

10.
SV CAR PASSES ONLOOKERS IN B/G.
0.39

11.
SV DISPLAY SIGNS AT CONTROL POINT.
0.42

12.
CU GIFT BOTTLES.
0.45

13.
CU OTHER GIFTS.
0.47

14.
CU MEN PLACE MORE GIFTS.
0.51

15.
MV 'FATHER CHRISTMAS' CHARACTER SHAKES HANDS WITH POLICEMEN.
0.57

16.
MV MAN PLACES GIFT ON GROUND - SHAKES HANDS WITH POLICEMEN.
1.03

17.
MV POLICEMAN ACCEPTS GIFT FROM MOTORIST.
1.07

18.
MV POLICEMAN GIVES BALLOONS TO CHILDREN IN CROWD.
1.12

19.
MV & CU BOY DRESSED AS POLICEMAN RAISES BATON.
1.20



Initials PC/V/JF/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: TODAY, JANUARY 6, IS TWELFTH NIGHT - EPIPHANY, AND A SPECIAL DAY FOR ROME'S TRAFFIC POLICE. BY TRADITION THEY RECEIVE PILES OF GIFTS FROM THE CITY'S MOTORISTS. AS ONE WOULD EXPECT, WINE IS FREQUENTLY GIVEN AND CHEERFULLY ACCEPTED.

IT'S A ONE-WAY TRAFFIC IN GIFTS AND THE POLICE MAKE A POINT OF ACCEPTING GRACIOUSLY - AFTER ALL THE DRIVERS ARE ON THE RECEIVING END OF FINES EVERY OTHER DAY. "FATHER CHRISTMAS" IS HARDLY A MOTORIST BUT HE SHARED IN ROME'S EPIPHANY SPIRIT.

ROME'S MAIN INTERSECTIONS WERE CONGESTED WITH LINES OF VEHICLES - WITH INSCRIPTIONS PRAISING ONE GIFT PRODUCT OR ANOTHER. AT EACH CROSSING THE GIFTS WERE HANDED OVER TO THE TRAFFIC POLICEMEN.

(PRESIDENT SARAGAT TODAY GAVE PRESENTS TO OVER 600 CHILDREN OF HIS STAFF AT THE QUIRINAL PALACE. FOR THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY IS ALSO "BEFANA DAY" IN ITALY - TRADITIONAL GIFT DAY FOR ITALIAN CHILDREN.)