The City of Chilliwack will be testing out a 'Toys for Tickets' campaign for the 2024 holiday season.
The idea came before Chilliwack council on Nov. 5, and they voted to allow parking-ticket recipients the option of paying off city-issued tickets by donating new toys or gift cards, equal to or of greater value than the parking fines.
This type of program has been operating in Red Deer, Alberta and parts of Ontario, and for Chilliwack it is anticipated to only have a "minimal" financial impact, according to the staff report.
The city bylaw enforcement department had been seeking council approval to implement the new 'Toys for Tickets' campaign Nov. 25 to Dec. 13, with the items collected to be donated to a local charity serving families in need.
At the council discussion Coun. Chris Kloot called it an "interesting idea" and asked if they would incentivize it, like adding a 25 per cent reduction in the fines, but was told the prospect of helping those in need in the community would be enough for some.
It already has a feel-good aspect in that it allows the one receiving the ticket the opportunity of "helping local families in need, and helps to turn the unpleasant experience of receiving a parking ticket into a more positive one," according to the staff report.
Only city-issued parking tickets will eligible to participate in the campaign and the donated toys must be new, unwrapped, and of equal or greater value (after taxes) to the value of the parking ticket(s) owed. Gift cards of equal or greater value to the value of the parking
ticket(s) owed will also be accepted. A receipt must be included with each toy or gift card donation.
City-issued tickets range from $20 to $50, and bylaw officers try for voluntary compliance before issuing tickets.
"Bylaw Enforcement Officers strive to educate the public and obtain voluntary compliance, with verbal and written warnings with no monetary penalty being given wherever warranted. Because of this, Bylaw Enforcement Officers do not issue a large volume of parking tickets, and the financial impact of a campaign of this nature is therefore expected to be minimal."
