About 18,500 parking tickets issued since July 1, snow conditions could help appeal process

• Tweet
• 

Students confused by snowy parking lots have been given a temporary break from harsher enforcement.

Parking Services has been more lenient on ticket issuance for parking in no-parking zones because of snow in the lots, according to manager Kim Roschak.

In an e-mail, she said there have been many complaints from students about snow disguising no-parking zones and the office has “considered the weather upon reviewing appeals.”

Roshak said PS will provide an e-mail notification of the appeal decision within 24 to 48 hours.

During the Feb. 7 plowing day, PS decided not to ticket students who didn’t move their vehicles because of the short notice, Roshak said.

“Although we reserve the right to ticket vehicles that do not move for snow removal in the future,” she said.

PS issued about 18,500 parking citations from July 1 to Jan. 31 according to the office’s records.

Brown City junior Carrie McIntosh said she received two tickets in the past week.

“I got it for parking at the Washington Apartments,” she said. “I parked in the same spot both times and got a $25 ticket each time.”

McIntosh said she might do it again because it is right across from her class.

Students have the option of appealing their ticket if they feel it was unwarranted, which favors them 50 percent of the time, Roshak said.

“Students (and) staff have no more than 60 days to submit an appeal,” she said. “Appeals must be submitted with payment in the form of cash or check only.”

The major reasons people receive tickets are expired meters and parking in restricted areas, Roshak said.

Clinton senior Max Jedele said he received a $25 ticket fall semester.

“I parked in the 24-hour lot by Campbell Hall for 10 minutes and when I came out I saw I had a ticket,” Jedele said.

PS has four student parking enforcement officers and one full-time parking enforcement officer patrolling on any given day, Roshak said.

“We strive to provide fair and consistent parking enforcement throughout the CMU campus,” Roshak said. “Fair and consistent parking enforcement is necessary to assist those who have valid parking permits to have access to ample parking.”