New York State Senator Simcha Felder has proposed a really cool idea called "Food For Fines". According to the program, drivers would get reductions of their parking ticket fines in exchange for donating food to the needy via charitable organizations.

Felder thinks many people would feel much better about paying their tickets knowing that much of it is going to feed the poor, and it would increase the pool of people donating - presumably, people would feel so good about donating to pay off their tickets that they will continue to do so even without any tickets that need to be paid off. This would be the classic "מתוך שלא לשמה בא לשמה"

There are already a few cities in the USA that have successfully instituted similar programs. People seem to be more ok with paying their fines when they know think they are getting a good deal, either with discounts during an amnesty program or via charitable deeds.

I love the idea. I figure there will eventually be a published list of which organizations are affiliated with the program by which donations can be deducted and I expect this can only help the charitable organizations help the needy and hungry..  maybe eventually such programs can be adopted elsewhere, and maybe they can also be expanded to helping pay off other types of tickets and fines as well..

source: Matzav