IUSA proposes parking changes

IU Parking Operations' policy is drawing fire from the IU Student Association.\nIUSA recently drew up a working proposal to lessen penalties for first-time parking offenders. The reform would reduce parking tickets to $20-25 for a vehicle's first two infractions. \nThe plan will aim to deter repeat offenders with harsher penalties for further violations. A third offense would incur a $50-55 fine, and all infractions thereafter would cost $60.\nIUSA President Casey Cox met with Parking Operations Director Doug Porter to discuss the plan.\nExact fines have not been finalized, but Cox said IUSA will attempt to dampen the blow to honest drivers.\n"I think most students do their best to park legally, and those people who are parking illegally one or two times are being penalized just as much as the minority of people who are parking illegally every day," Cox said. "The habitual offenders are the ones causing the problems."\nAfter Parking Operations raised tickets to $40 this fall, Cox said he wrote a letter to Porter to express his disappointment. After last Monday's meeting with Porter, Cox said he has faith in the reform's chances.\n"(Porter) was very receptive to the idea and said (Parking Operations) actually discussed it in their office," Cox said. "It's been an overwhelmingly popular option, especially from students."\nPorter said the proposal has merit, but some logistical changes might hinder its implementation. \nThe plan necessitates changes to the parking operations computer system to assess varying fines and appeals.\n"If you receive a second ticket and dispute it but then get a third ticket, is that third ticket now a second ticket?" Porter asked, suggesting one issue the plan would have to address. "But I'm not so sure that those are serious issues that would keep us from (implementing the plan)."\nHowever, Porter said drivers often exceed four tickets over the course of a school year.\n"The question is whether students would see that as being advantageous," he said. "(Some students) might say 'Gee, if you add that up, that's more than I'm paying now' even getting a break on the first couple tickets."\nStudents' records would be wiped clean after each year, provided they pay their fines.\nThe next step for the reform is to pitch it to the Transportation Policy Advisory Committee for approval.\nCongressional Secretary Alan Grant is the IUSA-appointed member of TPAC.\n"We just think there is a better way to go about solving the parking problem than raising fees across the board," he said in a statement. "This is an ongoing student discussion, and we're happy they are going to listen to us."\n-- Contact senior writer Mike McElroy at mmcelroy@indiana.edu.