A city in Oklahoma is letting people clear their library fines and traffic tickets by donating food to help those in need. Through the rest of November and all of December, people in Chickasha can bring non-perishable food items to either the municipal court or the public library to reduce or eliminate their fines, but the program works differently at each place. At the municipal court, each donated food item knocks $10 off traffic violations or other municipal offenses, up to a maximum of $100. At the library, each food donation reduces overdue book fines by $2 per item, or people can make cash payments that will be used to buy bicycle lights for children and families.
City officials said the program helps people give back to the community while also getting relief from their fines. All the donated food will go to local food pantries that help people facing food insecurity. This type of program isn't unique to Chickasha, other cities have also held similar food-for-fines programs during the holiday season to help stock food banks while giving people a way to take care of outstanding fines.
Source: UPI
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