The City of Kingston in Eastern Ontario is letting drivers pay parking tickets with a toy donation. The initiative helps make a positive difference for children in the community.

The City of Kingston is bringing back its “Toys for Tickets” program this holiday season. The program allows drivers to pay for eligible parking tickets by donating a new, unwrapped toy instead of money. The toys will be given to families in need to help make their Christmas special. Ryan Burns, the city’s supervisor of Enforcement Services, said that helping others is one of the best parts of the holiday season.

The city’s “Toys for Tickets” program applies to all parking tickets issued between Nov. 1 and Dec. 3, as long as the toy’s value, after taxes, is equal to or greater than the fine. Drivers must provide a receipt and can donate only one toy per ticket. Drivers can donate one new, unopened toy for each eligible parking ticket. Toys that need batteries or promote violence will not be accepted. Tickets for parking illegally in an accessible parking space are also not eligible.

Recommended donations include games, toy cars, dolls, and stuffed animals for children aged 0 to 12. Toys for children aged 0 to 2 and 8 to 12 are especially needed because these age groups usually receive fewer donations. Since the program began in 2005, it has collected approximately 4,200 toys in exchange for parking tickets, helping bring joy to children and families in the community.

Source: Josh Pringle, CTV News