Pay parking fines with toys, food in Pickering

Residents who receive those dreaded yellow parking tickets from Dec. 7 to 15 won't have to feel too bad about paying the fines.

They can pay them with toy or food donations that will go to a family in need through the Durham Region Police Food and Toy Drive.

Most parking tickets issued in the time frame may be paid through the Toys 4 Tickets and Food 4 Fines program on two days in December. The only types of tickets not eligible for the program are those issued for illegal parking in accessible spaces.

Last year, the first time the City held the program, 71 tickets were paid with food and toy donations valued at $2,200, said manager of bylaw enforcement services, Kim Thompson.

"The Toys 4 Tickets and Food 4 Fines is a unique and wonderful program that helps turn something negative into a positive," she said in a press release.

All toy donations must be unwrapped and all food donations must be non-perishable. The value of the donations must be equal to or greater than the fine on the tickets. Therefore, receipts are required for all donations.