Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Have you ever parked in Salt Lake City and found a parking ticket on your windshield? Did you pay it?
Salt Lake City is short millions of dollars in unpaid parking tickets issued over the past two years, according to a February 2015 investigation by KSL-TV.
In an effort to cut the severe backlog of unpaid tickets, the city is offering parking violators a chance for redemption.
On Tuesday, the city launched a 90-day parking ticket amnesty program. The program is designed to help settle extremely overdue parking tickets issued before July 1, 2014.
Through Nov. 7, qualifying parking tickets can receive a 60 percent discount off fines in exchange for a donation of four cans of nonperishable food items or a $10 donation to a selected nonprofit organization, according to a news release from the mayor's office.
The average citation will be reduced to about $70, the release stated.
Around 22,000 parking citations qualify for the amnesty program, according to the release, and city officials anticipate settling about 4,000 tickets.
Mayor Jackie Biskupski proposed the program in her budget address in May, and the city has budgeted $320,000 in revenue for the program.
"When this was first proposed to me by our finance team, it sounded like a win-win for everyone involved," Biskupski said. "While we will definitely measure the number of tickets we resolve, I think the true measure of success will be the money we raise for the worthy local charities being supported through the program."
Biskupski selected two nonprofit groups, YWCA Utah and Volunteers of America-Utah, to be part of the program.
Related
KSL Investigates: SLC out millions of dollars in unpaid parking tickets
KSL Investigators discovered that Salt Lake City is short millions of dollars in unpaid parking tickets, and the identity of the worst offender may surprise you.Other nonprofits benefitting from the program include Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah, Comunidades Unidas, and the Utah Pride Center. The city selected the charities after asking residents to nominate local nonprofits groups through a social media campaign last week.
The program has potential to raise $40,000 for the selected nonprofits, the release stated. All food donations will go to the Utah Food Bank.
Those wanting to settle tickets and donate online can visit slcgov.com/pcd and follow instructions for online payments.
Food items can be dropped off in Room 145 at the Salt Lake City-County Building, 451 S. State.
The program excludes cases that have been reduced to judgment or are currently scheduled for small claims court.
To find out whether a citation qualifies for amnesty, visit the Salt Lake City Finance Department website. Citations not resolved during the 90-day amnesty program will be turned over to the state for collection.
