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Parking fines fill people's fridges

The City of Whitehorse is continuing its annual food for fines program, which raised more than $7,000 last year in food and cash donations.

The City of Whitehorse is continuing its annual food for fines program, which raised more than $7,000 last year in food and cash donations.

Now in its 10th year, the program allows parking violators to pay their tickets with the equivalent value in food.

This year, the program will run from Dec. 4 to 11.

Non-perishable items such as beans, meats, sauces, soups and pasta are accepted and will be donated to the Whitehorse Food Bank, as well as Kaushee’s Place.

Last year saw total donations of food and goods worth $2,530 and direct cash donations of $4,730.

This year’s cap has been raised to $10,000, according to bylaw manager Dave Pruden.

An average of 540 parking tickets are issued that week, he said.

Depending on whether people pay the $10 or $25 fine, Pruden estimates the total amount raised will be between $5,400 and $13,500.

The program is in place for parking metre offences only and does not include offences such as parking in a handicap spot, for example.

Former bylaw manager John Taylor started the program in 2005.