Students’ Issues With Parking Tickets Given on Campus

Parking tickets have plagued both student and faculty members, an issue exacerbated by recent construction that makes driving and parking on campus a little more difficult.

There are not many legal spaces next to buildings, and students and staff in a hurry opt for illegal parking spaces that are closer to where they need to be.

The university has repeatedly issued global emails that warn students not to park in the fire lanes in front of buildings or else they will be ticketed by campus security. Over the summer, there were even warnings that the Fire Department would become involved and issue tickets much more expensive than those from school.

Despite these warnings, a great number of students park in illegal spaces, especially in front of residential buildings. To some, a thirty-five dollar ticket billed to their account is worth the convenience of not having to walk from the garage.

“If people weren’t lazy, and just went to the garage, they wouldn’t get a ticket,” said senior O’mard Alexander. “Everyone wants to cram into Thomas or one of the closer lots or on the street because they don’t want to walk across campus. It wouldn’t hurt people to get a little extra exercise.”

Some students received tickets even when they weren’t technically parked on school property.

Senior Matt Hockenjos received a ticket when he parked on North A and Edison, a somewhat legal gray area on campus.

“I had to write an appeal about why I shouldn’t have the ticket,” said Hockenjos.

Though his ticket was voided, Hockenjos says it was still a frustrating process.

“It’s just the fact that not only do they not have enough spaces, they push it further and ticket cars that aren’t even parked on campus. I just think the whole ordeal is absurd.”

Director of Security Kevin Howell says it’s a confusing spot because all of the buildings surrounding the street belong to the university, but the road itself has not yet been vacated by the state.

“There were tickets issued in that area that were not valid and they were voided,” said Howell.

“Security was just following my instructions, but there was a miscommunication about exactly where to ticket and I take full responsibility for the situation.”

The issue with students is not just the availability of spaces. Where the spaces are located is a major concern around campus, especially for residents.

Commuter students seem to have an advantage over residents, with a temporary lot in the North A, North Blvd and Brevard area, and the first floor and ramp of the West garage.

“I believe people who live on campus should have preferential parking over commuters,” said Ashley Peterson.

Howell said much of the confusion surrounding the parking ticket issue is due to a lack in student attention as to where they are allowed to park.

“Every student gets the rules when they get a decal,” said Howell. “I guess they just choose not to park in the areas they are permitted to park in.”

Many students park in teacher lots after hours and on weekends, which is allowed, but students must move their cars before the next morning when school is in session.

Student frustration is understandably directed to the security guards, because they are the ones who place tickets on cars.

“I’m okay that people aren’t always happy with us,” said Howell, “but we don’t make the rules, we just enforce them.”

Students often complain, saying they park in illegal spots because there just aren’t enough spaces for them to park.

In response to this, Howell said, “If you look at the ground on the fifth and sixth floors of West, there are very little tread and oil marks in the spaces because few people park up there.

“It’s hard for me to sympathize with students when I see two floors of spaces in the West garage that go empty almost every day. We always have available parking, we just don’t have parking where they want to park.”

Students are not the only ones on campus that are unhappy with the parking situation.

Gregory Darby, a systems operator in the admissions office said there isn’t enough parking in the staff lots.

“I don’t think parking tickets is an effective way to keep people from parking illegally,” said Darby. “We need more spaces. People are going to keep parking in the wrong spot because there isn’t anywhere else to park.”

Darby also expressed concern over tickets issued in staff lots that require a proxy card to enter in the first place.

He had to stop a security guard from ticketing his rental car that didn’t have a parking pass hanging. He hadn’t gone to security to register the vehicle he would only have for two days.

“You have to have a card to enter the lot during the day. I don’t think I should get a ticket because I don’t have time during the course of my work day to walk over to security and tell them my car is in the shop,” said Darby.

There isn’t much to be done about tickets that are issued to students who are parked in illegal spaces. Just because a spot on campus doesn’t say “no parking,” doesn’t mean it’s a legal space.

The best thing students can do to save money is to park only in spaces that are marked for their respective class or residential status.

Trinity Morgan can be reached at tmorgan@spartans.ut.edu.