Economy

Kentucky City Turns Parking Tickets Into Charity With "Food For Fines"

November 16th 2015

Lexington, Kentucky found a way to make parking tickets a little less horrible. 

We’re all too familiar with the feeling: you approach your car only to see the blaring neon slap in the face waiting on your windshield— a parking ticket, the only thing that will ruin your day faster than running into your ex. 

Parking ticketFlickr - Alice Keeler - flickr.com

After getting mad at yourself for your double-digit mistake, the anger shifts to the city. Why does your city who already taxes you now get to profit off your misfortune?

But this holiday season, the city of Lexington, Kentucky is using the misfortune of its parking violators to benefit its less fortunate residents.

From Nov. 16 to Dec. 18 the Lexington Parking Authority will accept canned food donations as payment for parking fines, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports.

The "Food for Fines" initiative will apply a $15 credit to each parking ticket for every 10 cans of food donated.

Cans of foodFlickr - flickr.com

This is the second year this food donation program will go into effect. Last year, the program was limited to parking meter violations and generated an incredible 6,200 cans of food. This year, the program is open to all parking citations in hopes of significantly increasing the numbers.

"One expired parking meter ticket could mean two meals for hungry Fayette County families,” said Marian Guinn, CEO of God's Pantry Food Bank, the recipient off the “Food for Fines” initiative.

So if you’re in Lexington, KY this holiday, park wherever you want! You’ll actually be doing something good.

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