Long lines with late and complaining students are what the SMUpolice department hopes to avoid when they implement the new gatesystem for the parking garages.

In the near future, students, teachers and faculty will now haveto either punch in their ID code or swipe their ID card to begranted access into the three main garages on campus — Moody,Airline and Law.

Although police initially planned to install the gate system byfall break, they have postponed its implementation to give it moretime to test.

“The gate mechanisms have to be lowered and raised becausewe have a counting system that keeps up the number of cars that areentering and exiting the garages,” SMU Police Chief MichaelSnellgrove said.

A plus for having these gates is that now the garage cameras areable to get a clean shot of the license plate on every car thatenters the garage for security reasons.

A “lot full” sign will now light up at all theentrances to the garages so that drivers will know beforehand thatthere are no available spots, instead of driving up and down thegarages trying to find a spot.

The police department plans on having officers outside of thegarages the first day or two after the gates are working to helpprevent traffic and avoid confusion that might occur.

The gates will run from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday throughFriday. The gates will not be active on weekends and holidays.

Visitors will also have to pay a flat $5 fee to park in theMoody garage on the first floor and in the University Lot whetherthey are there for five minutes or five hours.

There will be money stations at all exit gates that will acceptdollars, change and credit cards.

“The parking fees will be used for the parking fund whichgoes toward the cleaning and fixing of lights, stripping and thecameras in the garages” Snellgrove said.