SMU Police Chief Michael Snellgrove wants to warn students that they are on camera. Last week, a student broke the outbound gate on the north side of the MoodyGarage, the fourth such incident this semester. The gates have beenin-use since January.
“If their cards aren’t working, if Pony Expresshasn’t coded their card to open those gates, or if theydon’t have their ID, they can’t get out of the garage.Instead of calling the police department, they’re justrunning into the gates and breaking them,” Snellgrovesaid.
With cameras placed at the entrances and exits recording thecar’s license plates and the description of the driver,Snellgrove said it’s only a matter of time before the studentis caught.
Snellgrove explained how they get them. Once police find thestudent’s car on campus, they place a boot on it.
When the student comes into the office to have the boot removed,the police get him for the broken gate arm.
“Every one of them has confessed once they’re onvideo,” he said.
It costs the university $180 to replace the broken gate,including parts and labor.
The student is required to pay for the damages and is referredto Judicial Affairs where another penalty, usually a fine, could beimposed.
But, it costs the school more than just time and energy when agate is broken.
The university also loses an undetermined amount of money fromvisitors who leave the garage without having to pay a $5 exit fee.In the past 30 days, the university has generated $1,089 fromvisitor parking, not including the days that the gate arm had beendamaged.
The university began using the gates this semester to controlentry and exit of the Moody Garage.
The garage is in high demand during the business day. While, inthe evening, the gates are raised and access to the garage isfree.
If students cannot get out of the garage, Snellgrove suggeststhat they use an emergency phone or cell phone to contact thecampus police who will try to get them out.
If cards aren’t properly coded for the system, Mary AnneCasazza, manager at the Pony Express office, said that studentsshould visit the office to fix their ID card.
Regardless of whether a student has access or not, breaking thegate will cost them. And Snellgrove says they will get caught onSMU’s closed circuit TV.
