Tuesday, October 30, 2001

SGA proposal could reduce fines for parking violations
Kristin Delorantis
Staff Reporter

A House of Student Representatives proposal could reduce parking fines by 50 percent for first-time violations.The University Parking Committee and Vice Chancellor Don Mills are currently reviewing the plan to lower first-time fines for all parking violations excluding parking in fire lanes, said House University Affairs Committee Chairperson Karl Kruse.

If issued a second citation, a student would pay the remaining balance of the first citation as well as the full fine for the second violation.

Erin Munger/PHOTO EDITOR Patricia Blodesome, a sophomore radio-TV-film major returns to her car Monday to find a parking ticket.

Kruse said the proposal does not provide leeway for students who park in a fire lane, but would apply to those who park in handicapped spaces.

The current fine for parking in a fire lane is $100, as is the fine for parking in a handicapped spot.

TCU Police Chief Steve McGee said the state law is tough on citations issued for parking in a handicapped spot and this type of violation should not be dismissed as easily as a permit violation or parking in a faculty space.

Kruse said the committee realizes parking discipline needs to be maintained and does not want to undermine the police department’s authority. He said the proposal is designed as a break for students who have made a mistake.

“My committee wants to create a system where the deterrent of the higher fines would still be there, yet if you make that mistake and accidentally park where you are not supposed to, you don’t have to pay the outrageous fine,” Kruse said.

McGee said the proposal encourages students to park in the wrong spaces because it lessens the penalty for first-time offenders. He said a system is already in place that allows students the chance to appeal a citation.

TCU Police Assistant Chief J.C. Williams said many cases brought in front of the appeals committee have been dismissed or reduced to more than half the fine.

Junior psychology major Claudia Lemmon said she thinks the proposal would be very effective in deterring students from making the same mistake twice.

“I know I’ll think twice before parking in a faculty space a second time if I know I’ll have to pay the remainder of the first fine and a full additional fine,” Lemmon said.

Williams said the behavior, not the amount of the ticket, is the issue.

“Students who frequently park in inappropriate places will probably continue to,” he said. “The amount of the fine is really not the deterrent.”

McGee said he thinks the proposal will be difficult and costly to implement. He said the proposal would require hiring more personnel and rewriting the current computer program.

The proposal was submitted the parking committee Oct. 10 and to the administration Oct. 24. Kruse said he did not know when the a decision would be reached.

Kristin Delorantis
k.a.delorantis@student.tcu.edu