Most students who drive on campus have the same issues. Have you ever walked to your car and been caught by surprise? Were you ever running late to a class and had to park in the closest spot? Are you afraid that you didn’t put enough change in the meter?
From 2008-09, 18,820 tickets were written for cars parked on SMU’s campus. The previous year 28,463 tickets were cited.
Frequently, SMU students, staff, faculty and visitors receive citations for parking violations from Park ‘N Pony. No one is thrilled to see a piece of paper alongside an envelope trapped under the car’s windshield wipers. There are numerous times when the SMU community notice parking officials walking up and down the aisle, issuing tickets.
One may wonder, after all these tickets are paid, where does the money go? Mark Rhodes, director of PNP said the money goes back to SMU.
“We’re not in it to make money,” he said.
When violators pay their fines, the money is spent on SMU services. One of these services is Giddy-Up, a service that picks up people free of charge, during the hours of 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. every day. Rhodes also explained that violators pay for the cost and operations.
“People who violate pay for 100-percent of enforcement cost and operations,” he said.
Warren Seay, a senior majoring in political science, estimated that he has received a minimum of 15 parking tickets during his four years at SMU. According to Seay, when he converted over to commuter status, the tickets increased.
“It’s a huge inconvenience, especially considering the fact that parking isn’t good in the first place,” he said. “We never know where the money is going.”
Unlike the parking officials in downtown Dallas, PNP employees do not get paid on a quota, according to Rhodes.
“The parking officials do not get paid off of a percentage. We monitor the officials regardless of the number of tickets they bring in,” he said.
Rhodes looks for two main things from the officials, he wants them to be proactive and diligent. He also said officials look for parking permits if the car is parked in a lot or garage. If the vehicle is parked at a meter, officials look to see if there is any time left. Sometimes warnings are given to violators, he added.
In regard to the places that allow free parking for 20 minutes (like the parking spaces between Hughes-Trigg and the Fondren library) parking officials enter the car’s license plate into the Auto Chalk system along with the time they see the car. After the time has passed, the system alerts the official that the car may be over its allotted time. If the car remains in the space, the driver can count on a ticket.
PNP brought in an estimated $500,000 from violators during 2008-09. Rhodes believes the decline in citations is the result of people understanding the procedure of parking on campus.
“People are finally getting it,” he said.
Students, faculty and staff have a better perspective of the system. Even though the number of parking tickets decreased, ticket prices will increase $5-10 in the fall of 2010.
Many students argue that the lack of parking on campus is the cause of their last-minute illegal parking.
Rhodes said, “The plan is starting April 15, 2010 – July 14, 2014, more garages and lots will be built and taken down.”
Due to the new Presidential George Bush Library, classroom additions, parking and other renovations, SMU will spend a minimum of $150 million in financial expenses.
Parking officials will continue to issue citations to violators and they must pay. The key is learning how to park smart.
