Parking Fines Increasing in November

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By Nathan Shapiro

The next time you park illegally on campus don’t expect to brush off the cost of the ticket. With parking fines scheduled to increase this November, and in some cases double, the casual accumulation of parking tickets in exchange for closer parking spots is looking a lot less appealing.

Fines for all infractions are going up on Nov. 1, according to the university website. Illegally parking in a handicap space is doubling from $50 to $100 and unauthorized parking fines are increasing from $15 to $30. Late fees are also doubling to $10.

“It was time for an increase,” said Doug Little, the assistant police chief for the University Police. According to Little, there hasn’t been an increase in the price of parking summonses in 30 years and compared to other municipalities they are still low.

However, they are slightly higher than fines at other SUNY universities. According to their respective websites, the fines at SUNY Albany and SUNY Buffalo are $20 for unauthorized parking--though they double if paid late--and $15 at SUNY Old Westbury.

Jonathan Hirst, USG vice president for student life, said doubling the fines makes the university appear as though it is greedy and most interested in the money.

“For the most part, students shouldn't be parking where they shouldn't be parking,” Hirst said. "But I don't see why the fee should have doubled. I think it's ridiculous."

But Little said that increasing the fines was not solely a matter of raising revenue, but as a result of “chronic” violations of parking policies on campus by drivers. He hopes that the increased price of parking illegally will deter such behavior.

“We write in excess of 5,000 tickets a week,” Little said, “it’s a shame we have to write that many tickets.”

Amanda Mayo, a commuter student and former resident, said she parks illegally if she is running late or has to make a presentation for class.

“I don't think it’s unfair at all that I got ticketed for any time I've decided to park illegally,” she said. “It’s kind of like paying to park closer to campus for a day.”

Little said he doesn’t understand that mentality. “It’s just the fact that not doing the right thing bothers me,” he said. “Even if I know I can park 10 times and get away five times.” Little said he thinks people shouldn’t want to get a summons, even if it is just for unauthorized parking.

Students like Mayo believe that parking illegally is necessary due to the lack of affordable student parking. But Little argued that available parking has increased during the time Shirley Strum Kenny, the university’s president, has been in charge, especially by opening up staff and resident lots after 3:30 p.m.

Little said that the increased fines are not just aimed at students, but a mixture of faculty, staff and students that break the parking regulations.

“This is something that comes down to violators,” he said, adding that it will not affect the 98% of people he estimates park legally on campus. But he said he hopes the fines will lead the other 2% to think that they should act like the rest of the campus. His goal is to see the number of summonses issued decrease.

“Without enforcement of parking rules and regulations we would have chaos,” said Little. “We are not in the business of writing summonses, we write summonses because it’s a necessity.”