TROY, Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Troy University Police Department (TUPD) officers brought students relief through citation forgiveness.

Students walking through the Trojan Center on Monday may have noticed a strong presence from the TUPD, but officers were not there to issue citations. Instead, they were helping students eliminate them.

Throughout a student’s time at Troy University, receiving a parking ticket is a common experience. For many students juggling busy schedules, finding convenient parking can sometimes lead to costly violations.

“I was running late for an interview, and I needed to find parking fast,” student Taliyah Speights said. “I parked in the faculty and staff lot for like eight minutes, and when I came back, I had a ticket.”

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Parking fines on campus can range from $50 to $500, adding financial stress on top of tuition and other expenses. To offer relief, the Troy University Police Department hosts Ticket Amnesty Day each semester.

Students with outstanding parking tickets were able to bring toiletries or canned goods in exchange for reduced or removed fines.

“If you have parking tickets on campus, you can come by with some toiletries or canned goods and get some of those tickets taken off,” said Sgt. Andrew Garrett with TUPD.

All donated items collected during the event benefit the Trojan Pantry, a campus resource that provides food and hygiene products to students experiencing need.

“I really like it,” another student said. “I only spent about 12 to 15 dollars helping people who are less fortunate, so it’s a really good way to repay that ticket.”

TUPD officials say the best way to avoid future citations is to follow campus parking regulations and park in designated areas.

The Trojan Pantry is open to all Troy University students Tuesday through Friday and is located inside Trojan Village 200.