Parking and traffic violation fees will increase by at least 50% effective July 5.
Chief of Staff Amy Whitehead said, “It is necessary for administration to revisit fines from time to time to ensure they are set at appropriate levels. There are several things to note about why we made these changes. One, the previous price of fines was not sufficient to deter violations. We believe the new prices will provide more of a deterrent. Two, the new prices are more comparable — but typically still lower — than the cost of municipal fines for the same violation.”
Whitehead said that per board policy 421, the chief of staff and the chief of police establish fine amounts with approval from the president.
“Typically, Chief [John] Merguie will make an initial recommendation for consideration by my office. Before changes are made, we make sure to inform SGA of any changes and explain why they are occurring,” Whitehead said.
Each fine was increased by 50% and then raised to an increment of five except for the fine for parking in a disabled space, which was increased by 100%.
Michael Hopper, public information officer for UCAPD, said, “This is one of the more serious parking offenses that we enforce. We hope the fine will serve as a better deterrent.”
SGA President Phoenix Vu said Whitehead and Merguie spoke to SGA about the fine increases Oct. 14.
“I don’t recall any significant comments from our senators — I believe we were in agreement with the points made with Amy [Whitehead] that it was about time the fines were increased and that the 50% increase was reasonable,” Vu said. “I spoke with about a dozen other students who were perfectly fine with the increase because there was no downside to anyone who followed the rules.”
Vu said he believes an increase in parking fines is beneficial to the campus community.
“We know cases of people who park where they shouldn’t because they’re willing to risk paying a relatively low fine. By increasing the fine, people will be less likely to take that risk and will park only where they are allowed to,” Vu said. “Beyond ensuring faculty, guests and students living on campus have a parking spot, disincentivizing parking violations means UCAPD can spend less time writing tickets and more time making sure our campus is safe.”
Vu said, “I have absolutely no remorse for anyone who takes a disabled parking space or is driving recklessly through campus. Increasing fines on the more horrendous traffic violations should also increase campus accessibility and safety — one of SGA’s top goals this year.”
Whitehead said the revenue from the fines goes to UCA’s general budget.
Vu said it “helps run the university — definitely a benefit for everyone.”
Some parking violations, such as overline parking, defective equipment, driving and/or parking in the wrong direction and driving and/or parking on the grass, will no longer be official violations people can receive tickets for.
Whitehead said, “However, some of those violations may still be ticketed under another category. For instance, driving or parking on the grass could still be fined as parking in a no parking area.”
Vu said SGA hosts its Food for Fines event each semester before course registration so students can donate food to get their tickets paid for.
“SGA’s Food for Fines program allows students to have one parking ticket forgiven by donating nonperishable food to the Bear Essentials Food Pantry,” Vu said. “Life happens and people get tickets, but I hope the people that do get a ticket will donate food.”