According to Kevin Johnson, deputy administrator to the Southern University Police Department, about 200 tickets are written daily and 20 cars are towed. Over the course of the year, there is, in excess, 2,400 tickets written and more than 2,000 Southern University student cars towed.
Based on these statistics, where does this money go?
Johnson said the money is not going into the pockets of SUPD, despite what the rumors and school myths are.
“The money goes to finance operation-they are what we called ‘self-generated funds’-salaries of employees of Traffic and Parking and equipment,” Johnson said.
The money from paid parking tickets and towed vehicles goes to fund street improvement, such as the recent construction done on the potholes on Elton C. Harrison, known to students as the “The Strip.”
Johnson said other add-ons include the recent parking lot additions in T.T. Allain and Jones Halls and the tennis court parking lots, as well as various office equipment upgrades and improvements.
Upgrades include handheld PC downloadable ticket writing devices that will allow student’s tickets to be automatically updated to their accounts, which will alleviate late fees. Good news for students who have accumulated late fees in the past: the flat rate for unregistered tickets will remain $30.
“I feel like with as much as SUPD issues tickets, there should be well over enough money to improve facilities and roads,” said Zakiya Ali, a junior mass communications major from Crowley. “There should be enough money to pay for enhancements.”
The department has also eliminated the stipulation that a vehicle can be ticketed or towed for too many decals.
“That’s just crazy,” said Johnson. “We can’t fault the students for actually registering their cars.”
On the contrary, there is bad news for students who believe their unregistered cars will go unchecked.
“There are students who drive unregistered cars on campus, who are here for four to six years, have to turn in their plates and over the course of the years, they’ve accumulated hundreds of dollars of tickets,” Johnson said. “So, we encourage students to register their cars. In the long run, it’s for the betterment of them.”
Johnson said there are several “parking urban myths” that students, both young and old, need to be aware of.
“The biggest myth is that you can park in the minidome with an unregistered car and not get towed,” he said. “The second is that you have to have at least three tickets on your car before your car may be towed. All you need to have is one, and you can be towed. We only tow as a last resort.”
The company that tows student cars gets a percentage for each vehicle they tow. Johnson said however, the company may not tow a car without prior knowledge of the Parking and Ticket department. Areas that are strictly guarded for safety and fire reasons are all fire (red) lanes, and handicap parking areas.
“We have to make sure that, if there is an emergency, EMS, the fire department or emergency response departments can get to where they need to be,” Johnson said.
Michael Green, a junior accounting major from Baton Rouge said, “I understand the need for safe guards. But we are given a Rules and Regulations handbook without dialogue. There is an assumption that students should know the ins and outs of every regulation, but that’s not the case.”
Brittany Bass, a junior political science major from Shreveport, agrees.
“Personally, I believe the Southern System and the SUPD have and make enough money to cover road improvements, parking and flooding without student generated funds,” she said. “Yes, students should abide by the regulations. But, as we are attending an institution of higher learning, students shouldn’t be worried about parking.
“We should be proceeding with our education,” Bass said.
Categories:
Where does it all go
February 6, 2007
0