Vanguard

Issue date: 11/12/07 Section: News

Parking tickets issued on the University of South Alabama's campus bring in six-figure dollar amounts for the University each year. USA Police Chief Normand Gamache estimated the fines paid during the 2006 calendar year ranging between $175,000 and $215,000. Gamache's best approximation for last year's gains was $195,000.
The money taken in from ticket fines is earmarked for the repair and maintenance of the parking lots.
According to Gamache, 27,830 parking tickets were issued in 2006. More than 3,700 of these tickets have never been assigned because they were issued to visitors' cars that are not registered with parking services.
About two years ago, traffic on campus was so congested that the University decided to implement zoned parking. There are currently four parking zones on campus, and each commuter student is issued a permit to park in one zone of his or her choice.
"There is a lot of parking here, and from my experience, this is a really good system," Gamache said. "Students should make sure to initially pick a parking zone as effectively as possible. Picking a zone that is closest to your classes will help to avoid tickets."
The parking lots with the most violations in 2006 were in the Humanities South lot, the main lot near the Mitchell College of Business, Humanities North, the lot at the Instructional Laboratory Building and at the Life Sciences Building.
The five most common infractions and the fines associated with each are as follows: lot violation, $10; no parking permit, $15; parking in a faculty blue spot, $10; no parking zone, $10; and illegally parking in a handicap spot, $50.
After 1:45 p.m.,students are free to park in any lot, no matter the zone designated by their permit. The fine for parking in a faculty spot is suspended after 5 p.m. each day.
Gamache has three aids that work for parking services. These aids are responsible for issuing tickets on campus. Starting wage for parking services aids is $9.50 per hour. On average, more than 100 tickets are issued each day during the fall and spring semesters.
Fortunately for students, there is a process in place to appeal tickets. If one feels that a ticket was issued unfairly, he or she can go to the parking services office or the student services office and fill out the appropriate paperwork. Students must submit a copy of their ticket as well.
Appeals are to be submitted within 48 hours of being issued, but a week-long grace period is usually given. The Student Government Association reviews all appeals. Caitlin Collins, SGA chief justice, and Sally Jarvis, SGA attorney general, review the appeals weekly.

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