COLUMBIA, S.C. — If Mayor Steve Benjamin has his way, City of Columbia residents may be able to pay parking tickets by donating school supplies instead.
Benjamin mention the possibility in a tweet Monday afternoon, announcing city council will vote on the proposal at its regular meeting Tuesday night.
Under the heading "City Council Discussion" on Tuesday's meeting agenda, item number 4 is listed as "Alternative Payment of Fines - Ms. Elle Matney, Parking Services Director." No supporting materials for the proposal are attached to the agenda.
While no details have of the proposal for Columbia have been released to media, Mayor Benjamin compares the proposal to a program being offered in Las Vegas.
In June, Las Vegas city council unanimously approved a program that allowed parking tickets to be paid with donations of school supplies during a one-month period beginning June 19 and running through July 19.
Under the Las Vegas program, residents could satisfy their parking tickets by donating new, unwrapped school supplies of equal or greater value to their fine within 30 days of the citation date. A purchase receipt for the donation was required.