On Dec. 9 and 10, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, drivers who have received parking tickets over the last month can pay for it with a toy at City Hall.
Over last year’s holiday season, the city collected more toys than ever in the Toys for Tickets program. 360 gifts were turned over in lieu of $5,090 in parking fines.
The program began in 2005 and has collected more than 1300 toys so far for Kingston children, equalling more than $18,000 worth of parking ticket fines.
“We applaud the great generosity of those who participate in this annual effort,” said Greg McLean, Supervisor Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control.
Aside from tickets for unauthorized parking in an accessible parking space, parking tickets received between Nov. 1 and Dec. 10 can be paid for with a new unwrapped toy worth the same or more than the cost of the ticket itself, and including the receipt.
The City recommends gifts such as knapsacks, games, cars, trucks, dolls and plush toys (no battery-operated, glue, or war toys can be accepted).
Tickets can be paid at City Hall at 216 Ontario Street, and the toys will be placed under the tree at City Hall’s Payment Centre, then delivered to the CHUM toy drive in time to be distributed to children over the holidays.
UPDATE December 17: This year’s Toys for Tickets program collected 232 toys representing $3695 in parking fines.
Kingston motorists were allowed to pay their parking fines with toys again this year on December 9 and 10.
“We applaud the great generosity of those who participate in this annual effort,” says Greg McLean, Supervisor Bylaw Enforcement and Animal Control.
The toys, now under the tree at City Hall’s Payment Centre, will be delivered to the CHUM toy drive later this week.
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Photo source: Wikipedia
