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Volume 38 Issue1
August 28, 2000

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Parking fines rising, tempers to follow

BY MIKE TORRES
MESA LEGEND
Submitted August 28, 2000

Students, faculty and staff should begin paying closer attention to their parking habits if they wish to avoid a hit to their wallet. Three of the fourteen parking violation fines, enforced by college safety officers and the certified peace officers on campus, were raised over the summer.

Jim Allen/MESA LEGEND

The fine for disabled parking violations doubled from $25 to $50 this year

In an effort to combat confusion as to the parking regulations and fines raised by the Maricopa County Community College District Governing Board, all employees and registered students will receive a mailer outlining MCC traffic regulations. The mailer was put together with the help of Capt. Lynn Bray of MCC campus public safety.

According to Ron Etter, Dean of Administrative Services, the administration thought the mailer would be a more effective way of informing people. "We thought we’d come together and create something more understandable," said Etter, who conceded there is no perfect plan to fix any perceived parking woes.

"Typically, like anywhere else, any person with a vehicle is going to park in the closest available space near their destination."

The raising of fines was approved by the governing board at the same time the $1 per credit hour tuition hike was passed last April and were to be enforced as of July 1.

The fine for parking in an unauthorized area, the most common offense according to campus safety, was raised from $5 to $15. Also, the fines for parking in or blocking disabled spaces and parking in a fire lane went to $50 from $25 and $15 respectively.

Although the fines were to be enforced beginning July 1, Bray stated until new tickets with the correct dollar amounts are printed campus safety has no choice but to honor the current prices.

"The first two weeks of school are always the worst, and we usually give students the benefit of the doubt that they are just confused or haven’t had a chance to register their vehicle and place their sticker on the windshield," Bray said.

Students may not be aware  they are supposed to register their vehicle with college safety even though parking is free. "If the student has a decal it helps our officers identify them as the owner in case their car is broken into or damaged in any way," Bray said.

And although year after year complaints seem to revolve around the lack of parking, it would be more accurate to say students are more annoyed that there are not enough spaces within 10 feet of their classes, according to college safety and administration officials. Their suggestion is to sacrifice proximity for finding a space quicker.

"There is generally more than enough parking available in the southeast lot off of Longmore, but students don’t seem to want to take advantage of it," Etter said.

In addition, Etter pointed out the fact that MCC, in association with ASU, provides a shuttle service for students that runs all day between campuses. Alternatives such as taking the shuttle or carpooling are ways students can reduce their parking angst.

College safety officials are quick to point out that students are not the only ones being ticketed for violations. In fact the very first sentence of the MCC traffic regulation mailer pointedly states, "College traffic regulations are applicable to all members of the college community, including students, employees and visitors."

Etter said he is aware there are members of the MCC faculty and staff that disregard signs and fail to register their vehicles. However, according to Etter, any  individuals who were considered habitual violators were "...talked into complying in the future."

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