Flagler Beach, FL - An annual program offered by Flagler Beach police will let some traffic or parking tickets slide if you donate a new toy instead of paying the fine.
Today starts the 4th annual "Toys For Tickets" program headed by the Flagler Beach Police Department.
Officers with Flagler Beach police can issue, at their discretion, "toy waivers" alongside citations which will allow drivers to participate. Violators can choose to participate in the program or pay the fine instead.
The program is also aimed to raise awareness during the holiday season, according to FBPD Chief Matt Doughney.
"It's a way for officers to enforce the law and pay it forward to someone who probably couldn't afford a speeding ticket or a seatbelt ticket," said Chief Doughney. "Those tickets are expensive. It's $116 for a seatbelt ticket."
Doughney also says that some members of the community donate despite not getting a citation.
"There are people in our community that, when it was posted on Facebook, they're like 'I got a warning last year [and] I didn't know anything about it [so] I'll be donating stuff this year," he said. "You'll have people dropping off wrapping paper and toys that don't even get warnings. They just want to give."
Those who decide to participate are instructed to drop off a brand new, unwrapped toy between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at FBPD headquarters on 204 South Flagler Avenue.
All donations go to "Christmas Come True", a local non-profit organization whose mission is to help local parents who are unable to financially afford a traditional Christmas for their families.
The program runs until December 10th.
