A program allows people to pay parking tickets with donations of non-perishable food items, and on Thursday Tampa City Council members will discuss implementing the program here.

Food for Fines would allow people to pay parking tickets with non-perishable food

Each item would be $1 toward your ticket, up to $15

City Council will discuss program at Thursday's meeting

The program, known as "Food for Fines," would start as a test program this holiday season. The premise is simple: if you receive a parking ticket in Tampa, you could donate non-perishable food items to earn credits towards paying it. For each food item, you would receive $1 towards your ticket, and you could receive up to a $15 credit.

All of the food collected would be donated to local food banks, and Tampa City Council members are very supportive.

“The hope would be to help people come into compliance, pay that ticket, but knowing they could participate in this type of program would be a better incentive where it’s, everybody feels good, they’re helping somebody, they’re not just paying the fine and then moving on,” Council member Guido Maniscalco said.

Officials with Metropolitan Ministries said the program would be extremely beneficial and it would allow them to serve even more people.

“It would be another extension to replenish the things we’re given here at Metropolitan Ministries to serve more people and move them to self-sufficiency, alleviate suffering and promote dignity,” said Terry Hatfield.

City Council will discuss the details at Thursday’s meeting, and if talks go well, an ordinance will be written up for an official vote.

