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Calgary Police giving drivers warnings instead of tickets if they’re an organ donor

A new initiative launched in Calgary this weekend is giving a break to motorists who commit minor traffic offences, as long as they’re an organ donor.

The Second Chances awareness initiative is meant to give those offenders a second chance, the same way they’re giving someone a second chance at life by registering to be an organ donor.

It’s hoped the campaign will continue to raise awareness and increase the number of organ donors in Canada.

Throughout the blitz, drivers who do have an ‘organ donor’ symbol on their licence will be given the opportunity to correct their violation before receiving a fine.

It covers violations like U-turns, parking offences and other minor violations.

<who>Photo Credit: CNW Group

In addition, drivers who aren’t registered organ donors are also getting second chances in hopes that they consider becoming one.

"Our hope is that citizens and other police services across North America will join Calgary and California police agencies in this initiative to grow organ donation across Canada and the U.S.,” saud Ryan Ayliffe, deputy chief of the Calgary Police Service.

“This program turns a traditionally negative situation into a surprising and positive engagement and raises awareness for an extremely important cause."

Currently, there are around 4,500 men, women and children waiting for organ transplant in Canada.

Each year, 260 of those people will die before receiving a transplant, meaning about five deaths a week could have been saved with viable donors.

The Second Chance campaign will run for the rest of April with hopes of bringing that number down.



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