Tinned food donations reduce parking fines

The Food For Fines scheme enables Lexington residents to trade cans of food for a reduction on their unpaid parking ticket fine.

In 2014, 14 percent of US households had unstable food resources, so it is no wonder that we have seen a number of initiatives that help distribute food among the hungry. In Minneapolis, for example, the police department are distributing healthy food boxes with nutrition advice during their patrol. Now, the Lexington Parking Authority has launched the Food For Fines scheme, during which residents can trade cans of food for a reduction on their unpaid parking ticket fine.

The drive is being run in collaboration with local food bank God’s Pantry. To participate, anyone who has an outstanding or past parking citation from LEXPARK or the Lexington Police Department, can receive a USD 15 reduction in exchange for 10 cans of food. The scheme will run until December 18. Could this initiative work in other cities?