116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
More than $4,500 in tickets voided through Park Cedar Rapids program
CEDAR RAPIDS - Would you rather use the $25 in your wallet to pay a parking fine or buy a diaper bag for a needy mom?
More than 160 people chose some version of the latter by participating in Park Cedar Rapids' Forgive the Fine program, which allows people with downtown parking tickets to donate items for the needy instead of paying their fines.
The program, which began Nov. 28 and wrapped up this week, resulted in 297 voided citations worth $4,508, Park CR reported. People instead used that money to buy baby supplies, blankets, towels, toiletries and other items needed for people living at area shelters. Park CR employees delivered the goods Thursday to Waypoint Services and the Willis Dady Emergency Shelter.
This was the second year for the holiday fine forgiveness program, in which Park CR dismissed citations up to $100 per person in exchange for items of equivalent value. In 2015, Park CR voided more tickets, at 307, but they were worth less overall, $2,976.
'This year many participants donated items to pay off several citations at once,” said Josie Robertson, Park CR marketing assistant. 'I believe this is because enforcement did a great job recommending the program to parking patrons.”
Park CR has also done a Save a Life and Forget the Fine program the last two summers, which allows people to donate blood and have up to $25 in citations dismissed.
l Comments: (319) 339-3157; erin.jordan@thegazette.com
Ashley Taylor (center), Executive Assistant at Waypoint, helps Park Cedar Rapids employees Josie Robertson (left) and Walter Postley (right) unload items donated by members of the public in lieu of paying parking fines at Waypoint Services in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. People donated items valued at approximately four thousand dollars worth of parking fines. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
A truckload of items donated by members of the public in lieu of paying parking fines waits to be unloaded at Waypoint Services in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. People donated items valued at approximately four thousand dollars worth of parking fines. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Josie Robertson (from left), Alana Hansel, Youssef Yared, Walter Postley, employees of Park Cedar Rapids, and Ashley Taylor (second from left), Waypoint Executive Assistant, unload items donated by members of the public in lieu of paying parking fines at Waypoint Services in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. People donated items valued at approximately four thousand dollars worth of parking fines. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
A truckload of items donated by members of the public in lieu of paying parking fines waits to be unloaded at Waypoint Services in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. People donated items valued at approximately four thousand dollars worth of parking fines. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Youssef Yared, an employee of Park Cedar Rapids, unloads items donated by members of the public in lieu of paying parking fines at Waypoint Services in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. People donated items valued at approximately four thousand dollars worth of parking fines. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Josie Robertson (foreground), Walter Postley (background from left), Youssef Yared, and Alana Hansel (partially hidden), all employees of Park Cedar Rapids, unload items donated by members of the public in lieu of paying parking fines at Waypoint Services in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. People donated items valued at approximately four thousand dollars worth of parking fines. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
A diaper bag and infant supplies were among the items donated by members of the public in lieu of paying parking fines waits to be unloaded at Waypoint Services in Cedar Rapids on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016. People donated items valued at approximately four thousand dollars worth of parking fines. (Rebecca F. Miller/The Gazette)
Daily Newsletters