Time to renew parking permits or face fines on campuses
by KC Jones, reporter

    Parking passes dated Aug. 31, 2001, have expired.

    Many returning students may not realize that they need to go to the police office to pick up a new parking pass since the date on the front of the pass is facing outward.

    The new parking passes have been available since Aug. 1. Student permits are good for two years, until Aug. 31, 2003. Faculty decals are good for four years until Aug. 31, 2005. The longer validity for the faculty and staff are the result of planning by Frank Buchanan, TCC chief of police.

    “It was killing our staff to have all parking permits changing over at once. The lines were long and everyone was getting irritated, so staff decals were extended for faculty because they remain with us longer than students since TCC is a two-year institution,” he said.

    Not only does the extended validity for staff decals save time, but also it saves money. It costs the district over $20,000 to provide free parking permits. This is an economic benefit that most colleges and universities do not provide.

    “Most universities and colleges charge a minimum of $50 for parking permits. Unfortunately, many of our students are showing a lack of respect for the parking privilege, so fees and fines may have to be raised. Students should be grateful for the free parking. We are doing good things for TCC by keeping things economical,” he said.

    Although there is no charge for the parking permit, a social security number is required.

    Campus police are entitled to write municipal/state citations for serious violations, wrecks, no insurance and parking in handicap spaces. These fines are considerably higher than TCC fines.

    Police also issue many tickets to vehicles that have parked illegally. Since most of the parking is diagonal, and the lots are marked with one-way arrows, pull-through and back-in parking are not allowed.

    Sgt. Ralph Jeffries, assistant supervisor of SE Campus, has his hands full keeping people’s parking honest.

    “There are three violations we deal with continually: students in faculty spaces, expired permits and no permits,” he said.

Anyone who is affiliated with TCC needs a permit to park. If someone does not have one, for whatever reason, he/she must pick up a temporary parking permit. If people who are not students, faculty or staff drive to the campus, they must park in the visitor’s parking area.

    Betty Campbell, police office secretary on NE, agrees that there is a big problem with students parking in visitor spaces.

    “The parking passes are good at all campuses, for staff, students and faculty. None are considered visitors. We are one big happy family,” she said.

    The spaces marked with white lines are for students. The spaces marked with yellow are for staff and faculty, and signs clearly mark those areas.

    NW, NE and SE police offices are generally open Monday–Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

    After hours, parking permits may be obtained from the business office, generally 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday–Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday.

    South police office is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday–Thursday but only till 5 p.m. on Friday.

    The South Campus business office issues only temporary parking permits to non-credit students.