Fine for illegally parking in spaces for handicapped may go up to $50
by Steven Wolcott Kansan staff writer
A proposed increase in the fine for illegally parking in a designated handicapped space has drawn nothing but praise from handicapped people and those who work with the handicapped on campus.
The new fine would be $50, increasing to $60 if not paid within 15 days. The current fine is $25 and $30 after 15 days.
Donna Hultine, assistant director of Parking Services, said the fine increase was part of several parking changes proposed for this fall.
She said the fine increase was prompted by a bill in the Kansas Legislature to increase fines for counts of handicapped parking spaces.
"I don't know if the bill is still active," Hultine said. "But we decided to increase the fine any-way."
She said there would be a public hearing April 7 on the proposed increase, after which it would be sent to the board of Regents for final approval.
Hultine said that in her eight years at Parking Services, the fine had been $25.
"We're not looking to make money from this," she said. "We're hoping it's going to be a deterrent."
Approximately 60 spaces would be affected by the proposed increase.
Bob Turvey, associate director of the Student Assistance Center, said he didn't have a problem with the proposed fine increase.
"I don't have a lot of sympathy for someone who parks in a handicapped space," Turvey said. "This fine will wake some people up."
"When you look around, there's a greater demand for handicapped parking that he has spaces," he under-allocated, not over-allocated."
Glen White, training director for the Research and Training Center for Independent Living, said he recently sticker he could empathize with.
"It said, 'I'd trade my parking space for your legs any day.' "White said. "Some students may think $50 to pay the fine," but in Minnesota the fine is $500.
"It's a safety thing as well as a civil rights thing," he said. "If a handcuffed person has to park far away from a building and wheel to it behind the parked cars, they could be hit."
According to the first study, conducted last spring, as spaces around the handicapped spaces filled up.
people were more likely to illegally park in the handicapped space.
"Blue and red zone handicapped spaces tended to be violated most often." White said. "More violations occurred at night."
The second study, done in the fall of 1988, showed that if the space was marked by a standard "rocking chair" handicapped sign, people were 2 to 3 times more likely to illegally park than if there was a sign explicitly stating how much the person could be fined.
Hutline said signs would be put up on handicapped spaces stating the fines for illegally parked there.
"A person must have a state hand-d裁ed designer, either a blue placard or license tag," Hulte said. "Some pharmacists give out wheelchair stickers, but those aren't good enough."
Turvey said the University moved to accepting the state permits three to four years ago. Before that, KU issued their own permits.
"Every state has them," he said. "If you have a permit from any state you can park in a handicapped space, in any space for that matter."
Turvey said a handicapped person could get a state permit by filing a notarized statement from a doctor with the motor vehicles department, which would then issue them a handicapped tag.
Placement center's new director expects to add services, video interview system
by Thom Clark Kansan staff writer
Terry Glenn said that he knew what he was getting into when he accepted the position of director of the University's research program.
"I enjoy the responsibility very much, and although I am still learning, I will continue to learn for quite some time."
Glenn, who had been the center's assistant director in charge of education since September 1978, was appointed director Feb. 18 by W. Wes Williams, dean of educational services.
Glenn replaced Vernon Geisser, who had been the director for 12 years before he retired in December.
The placement center advises students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the schools of Fine Arts and Education about employment and career opportunities for workshops for all KU students on specific job-search skills.
Glenn said that he was looking forward to doing some new things at the center.
"We would like to develop several employment possibilities for students, as well as improve employer contact." Glenn said.
He also said that the center would install video interviewing equipment at the beginning of April. Glenn said that the equipment would allow employers in other cities to interview KU students in Lawrence.
The system will allow students and employers see and speak to each another and will improve the visibility of the placement office, he said.
Gleim said that there had been a low staff turnover rate and that the staff members' familiarity with the center's operations was strong.
"The staff has been tremendously supportive and great in terms of helping me make the adjustment of learning."
Glenn said that the center would continue to serve students as it had in the past, counseling one-on-one and small group therapy.
Williams said that Glenn had a respectable record both at the University and on the national level.
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