Is It Worth The Ticket?

COURTESY PHOTO/MARYKATE HEGARTY

Plymouth, N.H.- it was a sunny, fall day in November and I had just got released from my last class on a Friday. I was skipping to get to my car with a smile from ear to ear, with the best feeling in the world, that feeling where you feel like nothing could bring down your mood. There it was, that bright yellow parking ticket flashing as bright as the sun, quickly putting a damper on my day. 

I am sure this would be the case for anyone who comes back to their car to see a parking ticket on the windshield of their car waiting to get paid. Every day, students receive tickets for illegally parked cars on campus. Getting parking tickets and parking cars where they are not legally supposed to be parked is not only something Plymouth State students, faculty, and guests deal with but it is a law that everyday citizens come across other campuses as well. However, it is not the parking here at Plymouth State University that is the issue, it is the abundance of uninformed students about the rules and regulations that back up the parking enforcement at Plymouth State University.

Due to the construction going on at the PE center, the rebuilding along with the addition of a Rugby field to prevent future flooding has caused the removal of one of the major parking lots on PSU's campus. Although these will be wonderful contributions to our campus, a large amount of land that was once used for paid parking will no longer be available. This does not make parking impossible, however. If an individual is going to have a car on campus, it is important that you get a permit and make sure to read all the signs around the area you are planning to park and leave your car. This way you can eliminate your chances of receiving a ticket completely. 

 After interviewing with Chief of Police, Rick Bailey, of the Plymouth Police Department, Bailey explained the logistics of the parking enforcement and provided many facts that students may not be informed about and this article can help to avoid parking tickets. Bailey believes that the parking situation has been fairly consistent over the years and that the tickets are fairly distributed. "Most tickets are distributed near Prospect Hall, Hyde Hall, and the HUB area because that seems to be the place people carelessly park their vehicles.        

Those two parking lots seem to have the most cars parked without permits and most tickets are distributed but having a valid permit will eliminate you from this issue". Think about it, two tickets are more expensive then if you just invest in a parking permit so take that into consideration the next time you go to park your car without a permit.  

 Did you know you personally have a say in some of the parking rules and fines here at Plymouth State? There is a Parking Committee here on campus that establishes the fines and fees. Rick Bailey has been in contact with, Alex Herbst, the President of Plymouth State's student body and who also runs the Parking Committee, and they are currently looking for two new student representatives to help run the Parking Committee.         The parking committee has been in existence for a while and they listen to those who recommend changes, deal with fines, and represent for all parking enforcement on campus. Bailey stated, "the committee and the police department are looking into adding more lots with kiosks like we have near The Centre Lodge to decrease the amount of tickets distributed without permits". The kiosk is convenient because it is simply a meter where you put in change by the hour and add a ticket to your car. Bailey said, "Even though the parking policy here has its flaws, it has worked out for the most part for the time being." 

Another matter Bailey brought to my attention was the fact that you can sign up for lot maintenance text alerts that will make you aware of when the lots are being plowed or cleaned. "This would save many students from getting high priced tickets and having their cars towed, because they would know ahead of time when these lot maintenance procedures are occurring. Students can simply go to our Plymouth Police Department website and sign up for these alerts for free, it would save them a lot of money in the long run". 

After speaking with Cierra Wallas, a senior here at Plymouth State, she shared her insight on the parking situation here at PSU as well. "It is definitely reasonable, however from time to time I run into situations where I wish I could drive my car to class and not have to worry about getting a ticket". Like I explained earlier this area on campus runs into the most issues with illegally parked cars and people experience a high rate of tickets. Wallas made it clear that the parking is not an issue, it can just be inconvenient. "I do not want to have to walk from the PE center when there is just a parking lot outside of Hyde, but I do not have the money to pay for a ticket". Bailey also supported what Wallas was saying when he explained that "there may not be parking right next to where you go, but there are spots around, you just have to really look and find them". 

Even though the parking enforcement seems to be like a huge issue on campus that only brings people negative situations, these problems can easily be avoided. If you are someone who has never experienced receiving a ticket, or someone that has received a ticket, moving forward know that there are many ways to avoid this problem. Take the time to get a permit, or walk that extra five minutes to make sure you can come back to your car after your last class on a sunny Friday, and not stress about having a parking ticket waiting for you on your windshield.