Drivers caught illegally parking in Kingston, Ont. this holiday season can pay for their ticket with a new, unwrapped toy. The City of Kingston announced the return of its “Toys for Tickets” program this year, allowing people to pay for eligible parking tickets with a new toy, which will be donated to a family in need this Christmas. “One of the best parts of the holiday season is the joy that comes from helping others,” Ryan Burns, supervisor of Enforcement Services with the City of Kingston, said in a statement. “Toys for Tickets gives people the opportunity to resolve a parking ticket in a way that makes a positive difference for children in our community. Every toy donated helps bring a little extra excitement and happiness to local families during the holidays.” Parking tickets issued between Nov. 1 and Dec. 3 can be resolved by donating a new toy of equal or greater value instead of paying the fine. The maximum is one toy per ticket. The city says the value of the toy (after taxes) must be equal to or greater than the value of the parking ticket, and drivers must provide a receipt. According to the city, tickets issued for unauthorized parking in an accessible space are not eligible for the program. The Toys for Tickets campaign has collected approximately 4,200 tickets in Kingston since 2005. The city says the donations are provided to a local toy drive to be distributed.
