The City of Oshawa ran its 19th annual Toys for Tickets program in early December, during which residents who received parking violations could pay their fines in exchange for the purchase of toys by the Durham Region Police Service’s Food and Toy Drive.
The toys will be donated to local children in need.
The program began in 2006 and has received more than $35,000 worth of toy donations since then.
According to Brent Varty, the city’s manager of Municipal Law Enforcement Services, the payment of fines for these contributions is not mandatory.
“When motorists receive a penalty, they’re able to go online at this time and select whether they’d like to contribute that fine penalty amount to a toy for the program,” says Varty.
Some people at Durham College, such as student Vanessa Williams, say being able to turn a negative into a positive would be worth the hassle that comes with parking violations.
“I do like the concept of putting money towards toys for kids,” says Williams. “I know parking tickets can be a little expensive, so I’m glad that big expense goes towards helping out the needy.”
Oshawa is not the only local city conducting this program.
The cities of Ajax and Pickering have been running Toys for Tickets programs since 2007 and 2009, respectively. Additionally, the University of Toronto has been operating a similar “Food for Fines” program since 2012.
Media Loans clerk Michelle Lavender says the impact and timing of Toys for Tickets is strong regardless of location.
“I think if people are feeling the repercussions of everything that’s gone on, and the prices of everything have increased, and people are struggling financially, I think this is the perfect time for a cause like this,” says Lavender.