Before entering the fall semester, a lot of students were faced with a very important question: to bring the car on campus or not to bring the car on campus? Those who decided against it did so because they and their bank accounts would not have appreciated the reduction in already limited funds. And the thought of the already-too-familiar parking ticket lightening their wallets must not have been too encouraging either.
To some, parking is this big hassle that can be avoided by not having a car on campus. But in actuality, parking is quite a simple process. With just a little work, people can better understand that the trials and tribulations of campus parking are easily avoidable. When it comes to avoiding parking tickets on campus, Mr. Petterelli, associate director of campus security, says there are two main steps that will almost guarantee students receive no parking violations.
Step one: get a permit. The process is so easy that no one should have an excuse for not
getting their parking permit, Petterelli said. “Go online to lemoyne.thepermitstore.com and get your permit. When you’re buying your permit, you need to print a temporary permit, which a lot of students and faculty fail to do, since it’ll take some time before the actual permit is mailed to you.” That way, students can avoid being ticketed for not having any type of permit.
A key factor in the relationship between parking and the ticket is the placement of the permit, so students must make sure it is in the correct spot.
Sophomore Dana Anderson found herself in a tough situation: fighting a parking ticket because campus security was unable to locate the permit on her vehicle, when in fact she had one. As a precaution, according to Petterelli, students must make sure the permit is placed on the back driver’s side window, because that’s where the officers look to see if a vehicle is displaying a proper permit.
Step two: park in the correct lot. It is important to remember that lots are designated for different drivers – commuters, upperclassmen, underclassmen, faculty and so on.
“This year, parking is a little different than it has been in past years,” Petterelli explained. “This year, parking is residence and lot specific. For instance, students living in The Heights can park in the L Lot. If their car is found in another lot, they can be ticketed. However, lots A and AA which are down at the athletic complex are general lots, so as long as you have any type of permit, you’re OK down there.”
The only lots students are not allowed to park in at any time are Lot B [behind Reilly Hall], Lot F [in front of the Coyne Science Center], Lot P [next to the Panasci Family Chapel] and the circle in front of Mitchell Hall.
And for those students who did not bring their cars on campus but may have a car to park every once in a while throughout the year, there are temporary parking permits available for $3 per day. And, there is no longer a limit on the amount of temporary permits one can purchase within the year.
The Le Moyne parking system is rather straightforward, just as long as the rules are followed. Petterelli urges students to remember them the next time someone is thinking of parking in a lot without a permit or in a lot that does not correspond with the student’s residence hall. Fewer tickets mean less money out of student’s accounts and less time spent by security on the matter.
