This week, Duke students can reduce parking fines by donating canned goods

If finals week is already getting you down, a parking ticket on top of it can surely squash that holiday spirit. Before you curl up and become a scrooge, though, know that there is a way you can reduce your parking fines.

This holiday season, Duke Student Government has partnered with Parking and Transportation Services to launch the first annual Food for Fines Campaign. For each can donated, students can chip $2 off eligible tickets, up to a $30 maximum. The drive will take place this week, from Dec. 3 until Dec. 7. 

“Students can drop off cans at the Science Drive parking garage between now and Friday,” said junior Liv McKinney, DSG vice president for services and sustainability.

Canned goods can be brought between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and should have an expiration date after June 2019. The cans will be provided to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

Although students and staff are encouraged to participate in the drive regardless of whether they have received a ticket, those looking to reduce their fines with these donations should first make sure the fines are eligible. 

“Tickets for fire lane and emergency access parking violations, handicap parking without a permit violations or fraudulent permit violations are not able to be paid off with cans at all," McKinney said. "Also, citations under appeal or that have already been billed to Bursar—so issued before October 27—are not eligible for the program.”