New parking crackdown helps drivers avoid cash fines by paying in crayons, tissues, and pencils until October 2
A NEW driving law has ruled that motorists can avoid fines by paying for their parking tickets with crayons, tissues, pencils and other school supplies – but only for a limited time.
Greensboro, North Carolina will accept new and unpacked school supplies or a class donation as payment for speeding tickets issued through Oct. 2.
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Donations will be sent to the Guilford Education Alliance (GEA) Teacher Supply Warehouse.
Any donations must be made within 30 days of the violation – Disabled parking violations are not included in the program.
Supplies must be taken to the Greensboro Parking Office.
When motorists donate money, they can do so online.
The deed holder must provide a receipt to certify the donation or the value of the school supplies.
The value of the supplies must be at least equal to the fine.
This is the fourth consecutive year that the City of Greensboro has partnered with GEA on this program.
In the past, the campaign has raised more than $7,500 in donations.
Thanks to the Teacher Supply Warehouse, teachers at Guilford County School can receive free school supplies up to four times a year.
Here is a list of recommended donations:
- Folder with two pockets
- Antibacterial wipes
- construction paper
- copy paper
- colored pencils
- Dry erase markers
- flash drives
- glue sticks
- Number 2 pencils
- pencil case
- permanent marker
- post-it notes
- Scissors
- Spiral and composition notebooks
- handkerchiefs
ROAD RULES
Meanwhile, a mother who nearly lost her daughter driving on the freeway has proposed a major improvement to a highway code.
Authorities in Washington reported that unsecured truckloads cause more than 300 accidents and about 50 injuries in the state each year.
When an unsecured load from the back of a truck in front of them flew onto Robin Abel’s daughter Maria while the mother was there Drive In 2004, the girl was badly injured on a freeway and left blind, local news outlet Tri-City Herald reported.
Not long after the disheartening incident, lawmakers passed a law in her honor that imposed harsher penalties on drivers with unsecured cargo.
The law states: “No vehicle shall be driven or moved on a public road unless the vehicle is so constructed or loaded as to prevent its cargo from falling, seeping, spilling or otherwise escaping.”
Also, anyone is prohibited from operating a vehicle with cargo on public roads unless the cargo has a required cover and is securely fastened.
According to the Tri-City Herald, violators can face three levels of reprimand.
If no damage is caused by the violation, that means a fine of between US$200 and US$300.
Failure to secure cargo is considered second-degree criminal negligence if it causes damage to a person’s property, which carries a fine of up to $5,000.
If someone is physically harmed as a result of negligence in complying with the raid law, it is considered criminal negligence in the first degree with a fine of up to $5,000.
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