RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) β Downtown Rapid City has two new bright red parking meters that are intended to benefit the homeless and cut down on panhandling.
The "giving meters" are repurposed parking meters. The Rapid City Police Department and a local organization installed them in two downtown corners.
The police department says money collected through the meters will be given to the Cornerstone Rescue Mission, a nonprofit helping the homeless in Rapid City.
The department says the goal of the unusual campaign is to show the public that by "feeding the cycle of aggressive panhandling" the illegal practice continues to take place downtown.
Cpt. Dan Rud says the department hopes that the public will use the meters and work with police "to create an atmosphere where aggressive panhandling is not tolerated."
