Parking violations are among the most common public utility violations. Tallahassee City Commissioner Scott Maddox thought of an idea that will provide a solution to this problem while sparking the spirit of giving this holiday season; the Food for Fines program allows first-time Tallahassee parking violators to pay their tickets by donating non-perishable food items to America's Second Harvest of the Big Bend food bank.
The Food for Fines program started yesterday and will run until January 4, 2016. The program allows Tallahassee residents to give one food item for every $1 of their fine.
City Commissioners unanimously approved the initiative brought to the table by Commissioner Maddox during a meeting last week. It is based on a similar program in Lexington, Kentucky.
"The initiative won't hurt the city financially", Maddox said. He sees that it could encourage residents to start donating during the holidays and could remove guilt compared from the usual monetary fines.
Early in October, the city collected 860 parking ticket fines, 280 of which were paid in person.
"I'd rather forego those dollars during the holiday season and allow people to spread a little goodwill and good cheer," Maddox said. "If you pay your parking ticket with crucial food items for families that are in need, perhaps you'll be more giving in other ways as well," the commissioner added.
Only tickets issued during the time period beginning Nov. 30 are valid. According to a report by Tallahassee Democrat, fines typically start at $10 and residents could pay penalties up to $50 in non-perishable food. They won't accept any damaged, opened or out-of-date items.
Fine donations shall be made in person at the Utility Customer Service counter at the Frenchtown Renaissance Center, 435 N. Macomb St. the center, open Mondays to Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. is inviting residents to take part in the said initiative.
The same Food for Fines program is usually done in libraries across the nation during the holiday season. Some of the libraries who opt for food donations as overdued book fines are Burlingame Public Library, Daly City Public Library, and South San Francisco Library.
