UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Tuesday, April 26, 1994
5
Parking tickets still troublesome at KU
Expired meters are largest violations, no permits is second
By Manny Lopez Special to the Kansan
Parking congestion during school hours leads many students and faculty to park in metered parking spots or to park illegally.
Erica Jama said she thought that the ticket writers on campus hid in the bushes waiting to spring out with a ticket when she parked anywhere.
Iams' offense? Parking without a permit, a violation that the KU Parking Department deals with often.
Although permit-owning students think that ticketers are out to get them, the violation that earns the most tickets is parking at an expired parking meter, said Donna Hultine, assistant director of parking. The second largest violation is parking without a permit. So students who own permits aren't ticketed as often as they might think.
"If you have a permit, I can find you a yellow parking space somewhere on campus anytime of the day," Hultine said.
According to the parking department, 12,011 colored permits were issued for the 1993-1994 academic year. However, only 9,326 parking spaces are available. In other words, only 78 percent of those who have permits can park on campus if campus is full of cars.
Not to worry. Hultine said.
"Even though we have sold more permits than spaces, I do not consider this as being oversold because there are always places to park." she said.
Because of the student turnover throughout the day, parking spaces always are available. Hultine said.
But the frustration of trying to find a parking space leaves some students thinking that more tickets are being written.
'It seems like they are giving more
tickets because now they have those hand-held computers," said Angela Sciara, Kansas City, Mo., senior.
The parking department switched to the computers from hand-written tickets in October 1992. Hultine said that since the switch, students seemed less inclined to argue about the validity of the ticket.
"People respond to the computer tickets more than the paper tickets," Hultine said. "It seems like they believe them more."
Parking fines made up 30 percent of the department's $1.6 million taken in as revenue for fiscal year 1992.
"I'll park somewhere until I get a ticket," said Lams, who paid more than $70 in fines this year. "If I do get a ticket, I'll try to park somewhere else."
A yellow permit for the year would have cost her $53.
"Ill park somewhere until I get a ticket."
Erica lams
Chicagojunior
Though some students will park illegally regardless of fines, other students learn their lessons.
"I make an effort to be on time, but if I have to drive and park illegally, the best time to get away with parking is in the early morning. "Sciara said.
But with or without a permit, parking still can be a hassle, said Jennifer Conforti, Kansas City, Mo, senior.
"You can never just drive up to campus and find a parking spot," said Con-
Number of tickets issued for parking violations
forti, who owns a permit. "No matter where you go to park, you always have to wait."
Will Gunderman/KANSAN
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